Does the Economic Calendar Include Holidays?

"Trade smart, plan ahead — because the market takes breaks too."

Picture this: you’ve got your perfect setup in EUR/USD, all indicators lining up, volume looks promising, you’re ready to hit “buy”… and then nothing happens. The price barely moves because, oh surprise — the U.S. market is closed for a federal holiday. It’s a quiet Monday, no liquidity, spreads are wide, and your trade feels like shouting into an empty room. Welcome to the subtle but critical detail that many forget when trading — market holidays. And yes, the economic calendar you’re relying on might just save you from these silent disasters… if you know how to read it.

What Is an Economic Calendar, Really?

An economic calendar is like a trader’s GPS. It lists upcoming events that can shake the markets — interest rate decisions, employment data, inflation reports — and yes, often, public holidays that might put an exchange on pause. Platforms like Investing.com, Forex Factory, or TradingView update these calendars daily for multiple markets: forex, stocks, crypto, indices, commodities, and options. But here’s the catch — not all calendars show holidays for every region or asset class, so if you’re trading globally, you’ve got to double-check.

Example: You might see “Thanksgiving Day — NYSE Closed” or “Golden Week — Tokyo Stock Exchange Closed.” For crypto traders? Well, Bitcoin never sleeps… but market liquidity can still drop if big institutional players are off enjoying turkey.

Why Holidays Matter in Prop Trading

In prop trading, whether you’re handling forex, equities, crypto, or commodities, timing is half the game. Prop firms often measure traders by monthly performance, drawdown limits, and adherence to risk management plans — and holidays can mess with all of that.

Impact:

• Low Liquidity: Major holidays mean fewer traders, which means thinner order books.
• Unexpected Volatility: Low liquidity sometimes causes exaggerated price moves.
• Missed Opportunities: Key news releases could be postponed or markets could remain flat.

A U.S. Independence Day might not matter for your GBP/USD trade at first glance — until you realize New York is one half of the equation in that currency pair.

Multi-Asset View: Holiday Effects Across Markets

• Forex: London, New York, and Tokyo sessions dominate. If one shuts down, volume drops.
• Stocks: Exchanges close entirely. Some global indices still move but with muted action.
• Crypto: Open 24/7, but major liquidity providers could be offline during certain holidays.
• Indices: Futures may have shortened trading hours.
• Commodities: Energy markets like oil can see strange price patterns during thin trading sessions.
• Options: Expiry dates and premiums can be affected; watch your Greeks.

Integrating Holidays Into Strategy

If your economic calendar shows “market closed” — treat it as part of your trade plan. Some traders use holiday weeks for backtesting, reviewing strategies, or scouting assets that may be undervalued due to low participation. Others focus on non-correlated markets — e.g., if U.S. equities are closed, maybe trade European indices or certain commodities.

Reliability Tips for Traders

• Compare at least two economic calendars from different sources.
• Keep a separate holiday tracker for your primary trading markets.
• Know shortened trading hours — especially around year-end.
• Back-adjust expectations: if your prop firm tracks monthly PnL, don’t expect the same performance in holiday-heavy months.

Looking Ahead: Decentralized and AI-Driven Markets

DeFi (Decentralized Finance) muddies the holiday waters. No “closing bell,” but liquidity still obeys human patterns — weekends and holidays often slow volumes even on decentralized exchanges. Challenges in DeFi include sudden liquidity pulls, smart contract risks, and network congestion.

On the horizon, smart contracts and AI-driven trading systems are shifting the game. Imagine an AI bot automatically adjusting your exposure when it sees tomorrow is a major market holiday in Tokyo. That’s not science fiction anymore — it’s where prop trading is headed.

The Prop Trading Future

As multi-asset prop firms embrace FX, stocks, crypto, commodities, and options under one roof, the ability to navigate different holiday calendars becomes another competitive edge. Traders who adapt will waste fewer days and exploit quieter moves.

Market slogan? “Your next winning trade starts with knowing when the market takes a day off.”

Bottom line — the economic calendar isn’t just about big data releases. Holidays hide in plain sight, and anyone serious about trading all asset classes, especially in prop environments, needs to respect them. Because nothing feels worse than crafting the perfect trade… only to realize the market is out fishing.

If you want, I can create a holiday-aware trading schedule template that works across forex, stocks, crypto, and commodities — so you’ll never miss these quiet days again. Want me to put that together for you?