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Which markets are closed -- and when -- on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day?

MARKETWATCH 9:38 AM ET 12/31/2018

Nearly all major markets are closed on New Year's Day

Wall Street is set to bid adieu Monday to 2018, a bruising year for most assets that, for some investors, can't end soon enough. But market participants may be able to take heart in the fact that of a brief respite on New Year's Day, when nearly all markets will be closed.

On Monday, both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will observe regular trading hours, closing at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Regular trade will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

However, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends a 2 p.m. Eastern close, an hour earlier than the norm, for trading in bonds, including the closely watched 10-year Treasury note .

Most global financial markets will also be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, for New Year's Day.

Stocks in the U.S. have performed poorly of late, with December setting up to be one of the worst stock-market months in at least a decade and the worst December since 1931.

The Dow Jones Industrial Averagehas declined 9.7% thus far in December, while the S&P 500 indexis down 9.9% during the period, and the Nasdaq Composite Indexis off 10.2% through Friday's close. Those declines would represent the worst monthly drops since October 2008, according to FactSet data.

For the year, the Dow is in line for a 6.7% loss, with the S&P 500 down 7% and the Nasdaq Composite on pace for a 4.6% fall.

Trading on Monday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-climb-over-trade-deal-hopes-in-last-session-of- 2018-2018-12-31), however, was looking up after investors saw reasons to buy in recent tweets from President Donald Trump (

Just had a long and very good call with President Xi of China. Deal is moving along very well. If made, it will be very comprehensive, covering all subjects, areas and points of dispute. Big progress being made!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2018

) about putative trade-negotiation progress between himself and Chinese leader Xi Jinping via weekend phone conversations. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock- futures-point-to-a-christmas-eve-bounce-for-battered-equities-2018-12-24)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-point-to-a-christmas-eve-bounce-for-battered-equities-2018-12-24)

-Mark DeCambre; 415-439-6400; [e-mail]


(END) Dow Jones Newswires
12-31-180938ET
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