By Mackenzie Tatananni

Labor Day is here, offering investors a break from the hustle and bustle of a busy earnings season. A flood of quarterly earnings reports from retailers and tech companies -- plus those of artificial-intelligence heavyweight Nvidia -- have given Wall Street a lot to talk about.

There have also been a spate of developments in the political sphere, from the attempted firing of several high-profile government officials to ongoing negotiations with key U.S. trading partners.

It's time to take a breather. Here is what investors should know about trading hours on Monday.

Is the Stock Market Open or Closed on Labor Day?

The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will both be closed on Labor Day. Bond markets and over-the-counter trading will also be closed. Regular trading hours will resume on Tuesday.

Are International Markets Open on Labor Day?

Most foreign stock exchanges will be open. These include the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange.

There is one notable exception: the Toronto Stock Exchange will be closed in observance of Canada's own Labour Day.

Are Banks and Post Offices Open?

Most banks will be closed, as they follow the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule. These include branches at Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. However, ATMs and online banking services will generally be available.

Post offices won't be open. Labor Day is one of 11 U.S. Postal Service holidays observed in 2025, according to the agency's website.

What About Private Carriers?

There will be no UPS pickup or delivery service on Monday. UPS Store locations may be closed; the carrier recommends checking with your local store. Meanwhile, UPS Express Critical, a shipping service for packages that require extra care, will be available.

While FedEx is also closed on the holiday, FedEx Office retail locations have modified hours, and FedEx Custom Critical will be fully operational.

How Has the Stock Market Performed Around Labor Day?

The benchmark S&P 500 index gained 1.9% in August 2025. Over the past five and 10 years, the S&P 500 has averaged a gain of 0.9% and 0.2%, respectively, for the month of August, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

September tends to be weaker than other months, so investors shouldn't expect outsized returns after Labor Day. Over the past five years, the S&P has lost an average of 4.2% in September, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The index has fared slightly better over the past decade, averaging a 2% decline.

What Else Should I Know About Labor Day?

Labor Day is a federal holiday that falls annually on the first Monday of September. It commemorates the contributions of everyday workers in the U.S. -- hence the name -- and was formally recognized at the federal level in 1984.

There is some debate about the true originator of the holiday. Peter McGuire, the co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, recommended setting aside a day for a "general holiday for the laboring classes" in 1882, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

However, dissenters argue that machinist Matthew Maguire (note the similar last name) is the real mastermind behind the holiday. In fact, recent findings at the New Jersey Historical Society suggests Maguire actually proposed the idea of Labor Day while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York in 1882.

The first Labor Day on record actually fell on a Tuesday. It was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York City. Twenty-four states had adopted the ceremonies by 1894, and in June of that year, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.

Modern Labor Day festivities feature conventionally American traditions -- from time spent with loved ones to barbecues, picnics, parades, and other outdoor activities.

Write to Mackenzie Tatananni at mackenzie.tatananni@barrons.com

This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

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September 01, 2025 00:01 ET (04:01 GMT)

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