When do markets close on New Year’s Eve?
Virtually all major markets around the world will be shut on New Year’s Day, but U.S. stock traders can forget about popping any early afternoon corks on New Year’s Eve.
Both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will observe regular trading hours on Wednesday, closing at 4 p.m. Eastern. Regular trade will resume on Friday, Jan. 2.
Bond traders, however, can strap on the party hats a little earlier. Sifma, the securities industry trade group, has recommended a 2 p.m. Eastern close on Wednesday.
In the futures markets, the CME Group will close Chicago floor trading in foreign-exchange and interest-rate futures early, at 1 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. In New York, Nymex energy futures will close an hour early as well at 1:30 p.m. Eastern while Comex gold and other metals futures will end trading at 12:30 Eastern, also an hour early.
In Europe on New Year’s Eve, London equity trading will close early at 12:30 p.m. local time, or 8 a.m. Eastern Time. Trading in France and Spain will close at 2 p.m. local time. or 1 p.m. London time. In Germany and Italy, the last day of 2014 trading is Tuesday.
In Asia, markets in Hong Kong and Australia will trade for a half-day on New Year’s Eve, while markets in Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines will be closed.
Source: MarketWatch – When do markets close on New Year’s Eve?
