What Time Does The UK London Stock Market Open and Close?

Stock markets around the world operate at different hours. In the UK, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) is open for trading Monday-Friday from 8:00 to 16:30 local time, excluding several national public holidays of England and Wales, declared by the exchange in advance. The trading hours are continuous as the exchange does not close for lunch.

No, the London Stock Exchange is closed during weekends, i.e., on Saturday and Sunday. 

Most exchanges in Europe, Asia and the Americas follow a similar schedule, where they open Monday to Friday and remain closed at the weekends. However, in the Middle East, the working week typically runs from Sunday through Thursday.

Any trading activity executed outside the official trading hours is known as after-hours trading. The pre-trading session for the LSE is from 5:05 to 7:50 (local time). The post-trading session starts at 16:40 till 17:15 (local time).

These electronic transactions are, in principle, completed in the same way as regular on-time operations. However, instead of the exchange, outside companies, which act as virtual marketplaces, connect traders with the assets they buy or sell. 

Investors should note that not all brokers give access to outside trading hours. There is also less liquidity but higher volatility during pre- or post-trading sessions. As a result, there are usually wide price swings.

Trading hours at the LSE are from 8:00 to 16:30. The exchange is open continuously with no breaks. 

Like many other stock exchanges in the USA and Europe, the London Stock Exchange is closed during public holidays, including Christmas.  

In general, on Christmas Eve (i.e., Dec. 24), markets close for the afternoon, starting at 12:30.  However, if Dec. 24 falls on a weekend, this shortened trading day schedule is generally followed on the preceding Friday.

The London Stock Exchange is also closed on Christmas Day (i.e., Dec. 25) and Boxing Day (i.e., Dec. 26). However, if these two days fall on a weekend, LSE is closed substitute day(s), typically Monday and Tuesday.