By Mackenzie Tatananni

The Fourth of July is nearly here — and since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, traders may be looking forward to a long weekend.

Independence Day, as the name suggests, honors American nationhood by commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence exactly 250 years ago.

Here's what investors should know about trading hours.

Is the Stock Market Open or Closed Today?

The Nasdaq Stock Market and New York Stock Exchange will be closed Friday in observance of Independence Day.

Bond markets and over-the-counter markets will also be closed, along with all NYSE options and regional equity platforms, including NYSE American, Arca, National, and Texas.

These exchanges and markets are set to reopen at their regular times on Monday, July 6.

Will International Markets Be Open?

As a distinctly American holiday, the Fourth of July won't affect global markets. International markets will remain open for trading on Friday, including the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris, and the Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo exchanges.

What About Banks and Post Offices?

Banks will remain open on Friday. Expect normal operations at major institutions like Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. However, they will shutter Saturday, in line with the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule, which halts standard check processing and wire transfers.

The U.S. Postal Service will observe Independence Day on Saturday, according to an advisory on the USPS website. Post offices will be open and deliveries will occur as normal on Friday.

What About Private Carriers?

Private carriers like FedEx and UPS will remain open on the Friday before Independence Day, with some exceptions.

Both FedEx and FedEx Office will have modified service. All UPS services will operate as usual with the exception of UPS Air and Ocean Freight Services, which will be unavailable.

On Saturday, standard FedEx service will pause for the holiday. However, FedEx Office will offer limited hours, and FedEx Custom Critical will remain available for expedited deliveries.

There will be no standard pickup or delivery service on Saturday. While individual UPS Store locations may close — and customers should check their local hours — the Express Critical service will remain fully operational on Independence Day.

How Has the Market Performed Ahead of the Fourth of July?

The S&P 500 has averaged about a 7% gain through the beginning of the year up to July 4 over the past 5 years, and a 6.4% gain over the past 10 years, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

The index has gained 9.3% so far this year — and outpacing last year's 6.8% gain, which was muted by second-quarter trade tensions.

What Else Should I Know?

Independence Day honors the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which formally severed the 13 American colonies' ties to Great Britain. This year, the holiday marks the nation's 250th birthday.

The path to independence began in June 1776, when Virginian statesman Richard Henry Lee presented a resolution to the Second Continental Congress declaring that the colonies "of right ought to be, free and independent states." As several colonies were not yet ready to break from British rule, Congress delayed the vote until July 1.

In the meantime, a five-man committee headed by Thomas Jefferson was appointed to draft a formal declaration. Though Jefferson was the primary author, his draft was heavily revised by both the committee and the broader Continental Congress.

When delegates reconvened on July 2, a clear majority favored independence. Seeking a unanimous decision, Congress delayed the final vote by one day. Twelve colonial delegations ultimately voted to adopt the resolution, with New York abstaining. In total, 56 delegates signed the historic document.

Although Independence Day was not designated a federal holiday until 1941, the tradition of celebrating American freedom dates back to the 18th century. Today, those celebrations endure through parades, barbecues, fireworks, and time spent with family and friends.

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.