Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, brings a wide range of closures to financial markets, banks, and postal services this Friday.
The holiday marks the events of June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, informing enslaved Black people who were among the last to learn of their freedom.
Not every enslaved person gained freedom immediately after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the Civil War was still ongoing.
It took considerable time for Lincoln’s directive to reach all parts of the country, leaving many people unaware of their legal emancipation for more than two years.
Juneteenth has been observed and celebrated in Black communities for well over a century before receiving broader national recognition.
President Joe Biden signed legislation in 2021 making Juneteenth the 12th official federal holiday in the United States.
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq are both closed Friday, June 19, with U.S. bond markets also shuttered, and trading set to resume Monday, June 22.
U.S. Postal Service offices will be closed Friday, with regular residential and business mail delivery suspended, though Priority Mail Express service will continue as it does on all federal holidays.
Most major banks are closed in observance of the holiday, with closures expected at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Truist, Citibank, and Capital One, though online banking and ATMs remain available.
UPS pickup and delivery services will operate as normal on Juneteenth, with UPS Store locations also expected to remain open, though customers should check with their local store for specific hours.
FedEx pickup and delivery services are scheduled to operate normally on June 19, with FedEx Office locations also expected to remain open for customers.
For investors and traders, the closure of both major exchanges means no equity or bond activity will be processed until markets reopen at the start of the following business week.
