Is the UK stock market open on bank holiday Monday? The answer to this question is no. The stock market will be closed on Monday, August 26 for the summer bank holiday.
For those wondering what the UK stock market opening times are for its usual trading hours, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) typically opens at 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday with a small break between 12pm and 12.02pm.
This year has been a good one, both for investors holding some of the top funds in the market – like the popular S&P 500 and the ‘Magnificent 7’ tech stocks; Apple, Nvidia and Tesla – and for those investing in the underdogs such as supermarket stocks or emerging markets in India and the Philippines.
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Britain’s financial markets have witnessed huge shakeups since the 4 July general election. In the lead-up to Labour’s landslide victory, UK equity inflows jumped by a staggering 836%. Meanwhile, inflation rose to 2.2% while interest rates were cut by the Bank of England for the first time since 2020. With that in mind, don’t forget to check out our weekly share tips guide to pick the best stocks for your portfolio.
Stock market holidays vary all across the world, and here in the UK they follow the standard holiday calendar. There can be some exceptions to this, such as the extra bank holiday we gained in 2023 in celebration of the coronation of King Charles.
Is the stock market open on bank holiday Monday?
No. The UK stock exchange (LSE) will be closed on August bank holiday Monday – 26 August 2024.
This is one of the eight standard holidays observed by the stock exchange throughout the year, like the spring and early May bank holidays, Good Friday, Christmas and New Year.
It’s important to note that the LSE only follows English bank holidays. It doesn’t follow Scottish, Northern Irish or Welsh holidays. For example, the LSE is open on 2 December, which is St Andrew’s Day in Scotland and, therefore, a bank holiday.
Investors could use the free time to focus on their tax returns. Unfortunately for those hoping the general election would thaw income tax thresholds, Labour confirmed that thresholds will remain frozen until 2028, resulting in more under-40s set for higher tax brackets.
UK stock market holidays 2024
We’ve rounded up all the UK stock market holidays for 2024 and how they will impact trading on those days.
| Date | Bank holiday | On Exchange Trading Services | OTC/SI Off-book trade reporting only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 26 August 2024 | Summer bank holiday | NON-trading day | Available as normal |
| Tuesday 24 December 2024 | Christmas holiday half day | Markets closing process commences from 12.30 London time. Standard settlement day. | Available as normal |
| Wednesday 25 December 2024 | Christmas Day | NON-trading day | Not available |
| Thursday 26 December 2024 | Boxing Day | NON-trading day | Available as normal |
| Tuesday 31 December 2024 | New Year holiday half day | Markets closing process commences from 12.30 London time. Standard settlement day. | Available as normal |
| Wednesday 1 January 2025 | New Year holiday half day | NON-trading day | Not available |
Source: London Stock Exchange
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