Presidents' Day Shutdown: Stock Markets Go Silent While Futures Cut Sessions Short

Just got wind that our dear US stock market is taking a nap for Presidents’ Day on February 17th. Not that I’m complaining - even markets need a breather now and then.

The CME futures trading - you know, all that precious metals and crude oil stuff that keeps traders up at night - is wrapping up early. They’ll pull the plug at 03:30 on February 18th (Eastern 8th Time) for precious metals and oil contracts. Index futures are getting an even earlier bedtime, shutting down at 02:00.

Honestly, these holiday schedules drive me nuts. Just when I’ve got a promising position going, the whole system goes dark. And it’s not like presidents past or present are sitting around watching futures markets anyway!

I’ve seen far too many traders get caught with their pants down before these closures. The big money boys always seem to know exactly when to dump their positions before these scheduled breaks, leaving retail folks holding the bag.

These trading holidays feel more like opportunities for market makers to reset their algorithms than actual respect for historical figures. How convenient that liquidity dries up right before the shutdown!

Whatever. Guess I’ll have to find something else to obsess over on Monday. Maybe I’ll actually go outside for once - shocking concept, I know.

No financial advice here. Just the frustrated ramblings of someone who hates when their favorite casino closes early.