27th May is the Spring Bank Holiday.
Tracking such changes is a relatively easy task, as the LSE typically follows UK bank holidays, which tend to follow a predictable pattern within the fluid framework of Easter and occasional “extra” holidays.
Last year there was an extra bank holiday for the coronation of Charles III, and the year before that there were two for the Platinum 60th Anniversary and the Queen’s state funeral.
In 2024, it will be the “standard” eight days, although this will vary from country to country.
Timing-wise, it’s usually pretty straightforward, starting at 8am and finishing at 4.30pm, with the exception of Christmas Eve or the equivalent last working day (22nd December in 2023), after which the market closure process will begin four hours earlier, at 12.30pm. This protocol also applies on New Year’s Eve, but as it falls on a Sunday this year, “festive hours” will apply on 29th December (Friday).
A full list of trading hours can be found on the LSE website. One thing to note is that the exchange follows bank holidays in England, but different holidays in Scotland and Northern Ireland – for example, the LSE is open on 2nd January, even though it is a Scottish bank holiday.
Another big thing to note is that the bond and currency markets trade at different times. Currencies can be traded more or less 24 hours a day. However, this is technically possible with stocks too, if you rotate from European to US to Asian markets on a daily cycle. However, this is probably not advisable as it won’t get you much sleep.
