April 2023: Easter Holiday Season Trading Schedule

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Forex traders should be aware of the Christian holiday season of Easter because it impacts market opening and arguably the market itself.

As the Forex market is mostly headquartered in London and New York, Forex traders should be aware of the Christian holiday season of Easter. You do not want to be trading in markets with exceptionally low levels of liquidity and volatility.

So, let us pick through the daily trading calendar, showing the usual hours most brokers will be shut or closed early, plus some advice about when and what to trade:

Daily Trading Calendar
Date
Typical Early Closing Time (UTC / GMT)
Advice
Friday 7th April 2023 – GOOD FRIDAY
The NYSE and NASDAQ will close – although it is not a public holiday in the USA - and some Forex / CFD brokers may shut down from approximately 5pm Tokyo time until Monday. Most will remain open, but trading in many equity markets will not be available.
The entire day is a public holiday in Germany, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand, so trading the GBP, CAD, CHF, AUD, or NZD could be especially pointless. Markets remaining open, including the Forex market, generally tend to move little this day, with low liquidity, so it may be wise to avoid opening any new trades.
Monday 10th April 2023 – EASTER MONDAY
Almost all Forex / CFD brokers should be open. Several major markets will be closed today on this major holiday, with Japan, China, and Middle Eastern countries as the main notable exceptions. The UK, Switzerland, Australia, France, Germany, and Italy celebrate a public holiday today, so trading in the stock markets of these countries will not be available.
The entire day is a public holiday in the UK, Switzerland, Australia, France, Germany, and Italy, so trading the GBP, CHF or AUD could be especially pointless. Markets remaining open, including the entire Forex market generally tend to move little this day, with low liquidity, so it may be wise to avoid opening any new trades until the US open.

Bottom Line 

If you are celebrating, enjoy the holiday, and if you are not, do not try to enter new trades when major markets are thin. This is the daily calendar covering the holiday period. Even if you are not in a country that celebrates Easter, it is probably a good idea to take advantage of it and forget about trading on Friday 7th April and the first half of Monday 10th April, as strong price movements are unlikely to happen before the start of the US session on Monday 10th April. 

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FAQs 

Is trading closed at Easter?

Some markets will be closed on 7th and 10th April 2023, representing the Easter holiday in many countries, but Forex / CFD brokers will be mostly open for trading.

Is Easter a stock market holiday?

Yes, in many countries, stock markets will be closed on 7th and 10th April 2023, notably 7th April in the USA will see stock markets closed even though it is not a public federal holiday.

Is the stock market open after Easter?

The only stock markets that will be closed the Monday after Easter, 10th April 2023, will be the stock markets of the UK, Switzerland, Australia, France, Germany, and Italy.

Is the Forex market open during Easter?

Yes, the Forex market is open during Easter, but many currencies will be trading with very thin liquidity, making trading these currencies mostly pointless.

Adam Lemon

Adam Lemon began his role at DailyForex in 2013 when he was brought in as an in-house Chief Analyst. Adam trades Forex, stocks and other instruments in his own account. Adam believes that it is very possible for retail traders/investors to secure a positive return over time provided they limit their risks, follow trends, and persevere through short-term losing streaks – provided only reputable brokerages are used. He has previously worked within financial markets over a 12-year period, including 6 years with Merrill Lynch.