US stock markets to see shorter trading hours on December 24, remain shut on Christmas Day

U.S. financial markets will close early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, December 24, for Christmas Eve and remain shut on Thursday, December 25, for Christmas Day. Normal trading hours will resume on Friday, December 26.

Wall Street stocks were largely flat early Wednesday, pausing after a record-setting session backed by strong U.S. economic data.

The S&P 500 edged up 0.1% to 6,913.04, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% to 48,516.22, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1% to 23,544.20.


Investors are now looking for a traditional “Santa Claus” rally heading into 2026, a period that often sees markets drift higher due to thin trading and limited economic triggers.

Focus remains on the health of the U.S. economy and the Federal Reserve’s next policy move, with investors largely expecting rates to stay unchanged at the January meeting.

Recent data point to elevated inflation and fragile consumer confidence amid persistent price pressures. The labour market has shown signs of cooling, retail sales have softened, though weekly jobless claims dipped last week and remain at historically healthy levels.