Coding
Learn how to resize and compress PDF documents using Python. This guide covers simple methods with pdf2image, Pillow, and more advanced tools like pikepdf and
Discover how to calculate trading days in a year using Python on Linux. Understand why trading days vary annually, see 2024’s breakdown, and learn how investors use this insight to plan smarter financial strategies.
In the dynamic world of finance, understanding the intricacies of the stock market is crucial for both seasoned investors and newcomers alike. One fundamental aspect that often sparks curiosity is the number of trading days in a year.
This article aims to demystify this topic—exploring why the count varies from year to year, how holidays and weekends affect it, and how you can use a simple Python script on Linux to calculate trading days automatically.
The financial calendar revolves around trading days, which are the days financial markets are open for business. Typically, these days exclude weekends and public holidays, allowing time for maintenance, settlement, and regulatory updates.
💡Most stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, operate Monday through Friday. This results in about 252 to 253 trading days each year. |
The count can vary slightly depending on how holidays fall. For instance, when New Year’s Day or Independence Day lands on a weekend, the market usually observes the holiday on the nearest weekday, reducing or shifting the count of trading days.
To illustrate, let’s look at January, a month that often sets the tone for the financial year. Typically, January has around 20 to 23 trading days, but holidays like New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day can affect this count.
If January 1st falls on a Monday, the market remains closed, resulting in fewer trading days that month. On the other hand, if the holiday lands on a weekend, it’s usually observed on the closest weekday.
| Holiday | Description | Impact on Trading Days |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Observed on the first weekday of January | Market closed for 1 day |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Observed on the third Monday in January | Market closed for 1 day |
Thus, each January typically has 21 trading days, given these two weekday holidays.
The year 2024 brings some unique considerations. Because it’s a leap year, there will be 253 trading days — one more than usual.
Additionally, U.S. markets observe three half-trading days, where the market closes early (usually at 1 PM). These half-days occur around major holidays, including:
|
|
|
Here’s a detailed breakdown of 2024 trading days per month, excluding market holidays:
| Month | Market Holidays | Total Trading Days |
|---|---|---|
| January | New Year’s Day (1st), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (16th) | 21 |
| February | Presidents Day (19th) | 20 |
| March | — | 21 |
| April | — | 22 |
| May | Memorial Day (27th) | 22 |
| June | Juneteenth (19th) | 20 |
| July | Independence Day (4th) | 22 |
| August | — | 22 |
| September | Labor Day (2nd) | 20 |
| October | Columbus Day (14th) | 22 |
| November | Thanksgiving Day (28th) | 20 |
| December | Christmas Day (25th) | 21 |
✅ Total Trading Days in 2024: 253
If you’re working in finance or data analysis, manually counting trading days each year can be tedious. Luckily, with a few lines of Python, you can automate the process and even account for holidays dynamically.
Below is a simple Python script that calculates trading days in a given year on Linux using NumPy (trading_days.py):
#!/usr/bin/env python3
import numpy as np
import datetime
import sys
# Define U.S. market holidays
def get_us_market_holidays(year):
holidays = [
f"{year}-01-01", # New Year's Day
f"{year}-07-04", # Independence Day
f"{year}-12-25", # Christmas Day
]
thanksgiving = np.busday_offset(f"{year}-11-01", 3, roll='forward', weekmask='1111100')
holidays.append(str(thanksgiving))
return np.array(holidays, dtype='datetime64[D]')
# Calculate total trading days
def trading_days_in_year(year):
start = np.datetime64(f'{year}-01-01')
end = np.datetime64(f'{year + 1}-01-01')
holidays = get_us_market_holidays(year)
all_days = np.arange(start, end)
business_days = np.is_busday(all_days, holidays=holidays)
return np.sum(business_days)
# Main
if __name__ == "__main__":
if len(sys.argv) < 2:
year = datetime.datetime.now().year
else:
year = int(sys.argv[1])
print(f"Trading days in {year}: {trading_days_in_year(year)}")
🟢 Usage on Linux |
chmod +x trading_days.py
./trading_days.py 2025
🟢 Output: |
Trading days in 2025: 252
This script automatically calculates business days between January 1st and December 31st, excluding weekends and U.S. holidays.
Learn how to resize and compress PDF documents using Python. This guide covers simple methods with pdf2image, Pillow, and more advanced tools like pikepdf and
Learn how to batch resize images (PNG, JPEG, etc.) using a Python script. Optimize your website or project by automating image resizing with the Pillow
Learn how to resize images while maintaining the aspect ratio in Python using libraries like Pillow and OpenCV. Follow our step-by-step guide with code examples, best