Markets and the rest of the country won’t be in sync as we head into the 4th. That puts some timing risk on the table for you. You have the exchanges calling it a day on Friday while a lot of banks and shops are open, and shipping is on a patchwork of schedules. So you have to plan for July 3 and Saturday, July 4 with an eye on cash and logistics.
Then there is the federal side of things. The US Government Office of Personnel Management will have many of its employees off on Friday since the 4th is on a Saturday, but don’t expect every consumer-facing service to do the same.
Market hours and investor timelines
The NYSE has made it clear: all of its markets will be closed for the Fourth of July on Friday. Nasdaq is on the same page. You won’t see any trading until Monday, July 6 at 9:30 am ET.
So after Friday, U.S. equities are on hold for two days. Any need for hedging or liquidity will have to wait for the Monday open. Factor the long weekend in when you’re putting together time-sensitive orders and settlement plans.
Federal observance and government operations
You won’t be getting in to any government offices for the national holiday. The same goes for city and village offices on Friday. Even the courts in Illinois are out for the day.
State motor vehicle offices are a mixed bag. In Illinois, you can expect the Secretary of State DMVs and other state offices to be shut on July 3. Over in California and Massachusetts, however, their respective DMV and RMV facilities will be open as usual on Friday.
It’s different in some other states. Connecticut will have you in on the 3rd but will let you out early. New Jersey, Florida, Virginia and a few others will be closed. It doesn’t hurt to check on your local spot first.
Mail and parcel logistics
USPS says post offices will be open for business on Friday, July 3 and you can expect regular delivery. For some of their staff, the Friday before a Saturday holiday is a paid day off. But on Saturday the 4th, the post is closed. Priority Mail Express is the one that runs 365 days a year.
UPS will not be doing any picking up or delivering on the 4th. A number of UPS Stores could be closed, so give your local one a call. If you need it, UPS Express Critical is on 24/7.
FedEx will be around on Friday to pick up and deliver, but with some changes to how they do it. You may see some early on-call or drop box pickups in certain areas, and some boxes will be shut down. Their retail side might have different hours on the 3rd.
For the most part, FedEx is off the board on the 4th. Their Office locations will be on a modified run. But if you are using Custom Critical, they are available 24-7, no exceptions.
Banking access and payments
The big names like Bank of America, Wells Fargo and CitiBank will have their branches locked up for the day, being a federal holiday and all. They will be out for Saturday, too, and back in on Monday, July 6.
The Fed has said that for a Saturday holiday, the preceding Friday is an open day for banks. You’ll find this with Chase, BofA, M&T, Santander and the like. Some, though, may have you in and out a bit earlier. Best to verify with your branch.
Retail schedules and consumer traffic
Your typical grocery and retail store should be open on Friday. We’re talking about the likes of Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Macy’s, Kohl’s, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross. They will be on their normal schedule.
All of this is in honor of the Declaration of Independence being put to paper on July 4, 1776. Congress made it an official federal holiday way back in 1870.
Plan around closures: quick checklist
If you want to sidestep any hiccups with your portfolio or ops, here is what to do:
– Get your trades in before the market closes on Friday.
– Double-check what time your bank is open on Friday.
– Put out your shipments a little early to make up for the Saturday lull.
– See what your options are with USPS, FedEx and UPS for the 3rd.
– Look over any notices from the DMV or your city office.
It’s a no-brainer: the exchanges are dark on Friday, you can still get to your bank, and the carriers will be reining in deliveries on Saturday. Line up your payroll and cash where you need them to be and you won’t have to deal with any of it.
