July 4 Trading Holiday Hours

The CME recognizes nine major U.S. holidays annually. We’re approaching one soon. Independence Day, also known as July 4 or the “Fourth of July,” is next week. July 4 is a federal holiday that recognizes the anniversary of the U.S.’s independence from Great Britain since July 4, 1776. Because the markets will close early, you may be able to enjoy some grilling and fireworks. Be careful though leading up to the holiday, as markets tend to slow down or move more randomly than usual. Also, make sure that you’re not in an open position when the market closes early. If that were to happen, you should call your broker right away.

If you want to read the official notice from the CME, click here. Note the times are provided in an Excel spreadsheet. The Compact version is a bit easier to read. Better yet, just read our notes below. We do not mention commodities like grains or dairy because we’re not interested in them. The E-mini (the main market we trade) is considered a CME equity product.

• Tuesday, July 3, 2018: Equity and Bitcoin markets close early at 1:15 p.m. EDT (UTC-4). Note that forex, interest rate, energy, metal, and DME markets will be open normal hours.
• Wednesday, July 4, 2018: Equity, forex, bitcoin, interest rate, energy, metals, and DME markets halt at 1:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) and reopen at 6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4).

What Comes After July 4?

The rest of the week, expect normal market hours. What holiday is next? Labor Day in early September.

Are you ready to gain your independence from under-performing trading systems? Sign up for the Group Mentorship class that begins July 2 and you’ll be marching to the beat of a new drummer in no time. We’ll help you recognize military candle formations, and find the discipline and skill to be at the frontlines of the markets. Think of it like a trading boot camp that gives you all the courses, software, and techniques in eight short weeks. Our goal is to deploy you as an independent, capable trader.