Stock market opening times vary throughout the world. Most are open throughout the working week, but that doesn’t always mean Monday to Friday.
For example, the Saudi Stock Exchange is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Stock market opening times also vary from region to region based on holidays, from Christmas to Thanksgiving, the Emperor’s Birthday in Japan, Guru Nanak Jayanti in India and Carnival in Brazil, every country in the world has its own traditions.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
In the UK and the US over the Christmas season, stock market opening times can change significantly.
So with the season coming up, when will the London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange open this year?
When is the London Stock Exchange open?
The London Stock Exchange is typically open on weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with a small break between 12:00 pm and 12:02 pm.
With a total trading window of 8 hours 28 minutes, the exchange has some of the longest opening hours in the world.
In comparison, the trading session in New York is just 6 hours 30 hours.
The London Stock Exchange is shut on weekends, and some big City traders can place deals outside of the standard stock market opening times.
The exchange conducts what is known as extended hours, or after-hours trading, which takes place from 5:05 am to 7:50 am and 4:40 pm to 5:15 pm when the market is closed.
What are the stock market opening times in the United States?
Unlike London, the US market is so big there are several stock exchanges. The NYSE and the Nasdaq are the two largest American exchanges and they open between 9:30 am and 16:30 pm with no break for lunch.
After-hours trading also takes place on American exchanges. The after-hours trading session can run as late as 8:00 pm and start as early as 7:00 am. What’s more, extended-hours trading is more widely available in the US and is offered by most online brokers.
However, trading outside of the usual stock market opening times can be hazardous. As the number of trades is only a fraction of the number in usual trading hours, equity prices can be unpredictable.
When will the London Stock Exchange close for Christmas?
The London Stock Exchange will be open for a half day on Friday 22 December, closing at 12:30 pm.
It will be closed on Monday 25 December for Christmas Day and Tuesday 26 December for Boxing Day.
On Friday 29 December the London Stock Exchange will be open for a half day, shutting at 12:30 pm. Finally it will close again Monday 1 January for the New Year’s Day bank holiday.
After the Christmas season, it will remain open until early April when it will observe the year’s bank holidays for Easter.
What are the stock market opening times of the NYSE over the holidays?
The New York Stock Exchange will close for Christmas Day on Monday 25 December. It will also close on Monday 1 January for the New Year’s Day holiday.
The Nasdaq market will close to observe Christmas Day on Monday 25 December and it will also be closed for the New Year’s Day holiday on 1 January. The stock market opening times will remain the same otherwise.
-
Pension vs property: which option provides the best income for your retirement?News With the cost of a comfortable retirement on the rise, future retirees need to weigh up which strategy offers the best returns. But is a pension a better bet than property?
-
The industry at the heart of global technologyThe semiconductor industry powers key trends such as artificial intelligence, says Rupert Hargreaves
-
Halifax: House price slump continues as prices slide for the sixth consecutive monthUK house prices fell again in September as buyers returned, but the slowdown was not as fast as anticipated, latest Halifax data shows. Where are house prices falling the most?
-
Rents hit a record high - but is the opportunity for buy-to-let investors still strong?UK rent prices have hit a record high with the average hitting over £1,200 a month says Rightmove. Are there still opportunities in buy-to-let?
-
Pension savers turn to gold investmentsInvestors are racing to buy gold to protect their pensions from a stock market correction and high inflation, experts say
-
Where to find the best returns from student accommodationStudent accommodation can be a lucrative investment if you know where to look.
-
Best investing appsWe round up the best investing apps. Looking for an easy-to-use app to help you start investing, keep track of your portfolio or make trades on the go?
-
The world’s best bargain stocksSearching for bargain stocks with Alec Cutler of the Orbis Global Balanced Fund, who tells Andrew Van Sickle which sectors are being overlooked.
-
Revealed: the cheapest cities to own a home in BritainNew research reveals the cheapest cities to own a home, taking account of mortgage payments, utility bills and council tax
-
UK recession: How to protect your portfolioAs the UK recession is confirmed, we look at ways to protect your wealth.
