Financial markets will close on Friday to observe the passing of President Ronald Reagan. The tradition, which started in the 1800s, was last observed in 1994 for President Richard Nixon's funeral.

A survey of the top 25 largest fund families seems to indicate that like many, fund firms were caught by surprise with the news.

While Van Kampen/Morgan Stanley, Eaton Vance, Putnam and Federated Investors had not cemented their plans as of Tuesday; Vanguard, Fidelity, Franklin, PIMCO, American Express Financial, Pioneer Investments, Evergreen Investments, Lord Abbett, Alliance, and Dreyfus did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

American Funds, T. Rowe Price, AIM, Dodge & Cox and Federated will be closed for business, while some at MFS will report to the office. American Century and OppenheimerFunds will open.

All firms that replied back to MFWire.com will process orders received on Friday using Monday's close price.

MFS, AIM and American Century funds holding international securities will trade on the international exchanges.

While fund companies may make planning for this type of event since the last time that it happened was a decade ago, the next such impromptu holiday may not be far off.

The oldest living president is President Gerald Ford, who turns 91 this year. President Jimmy Carter will turn 80 this October, and George Bush, Sr. turns 80 this Saturday.

Who's Doing What
Fund	U.S. Offices Closed for Business	Friday Pricing	Int'l Trading
American Funds	Closed	Monday's price	unknown
T. Rowe Price	Closed	Monday's price	No
OppenheimerFunds	Open	Monday's price	unknown
MFS	Partially Staffed	Monday's price	Yes
AIM	Closed	Monday's price	Yes
American Century	Open	Monday's price	Yes
Dodge & Cox	Closed	Monday's price	unknown
Federated Investors	Closed	unknown	unknown
Columbia Funds	Open	Monday's price	unknown
Source: Media relations

 

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