Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve 2026? HKEX Hours
December 24
Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve 2026? HKEX Hours
Hong Kong Stock Exchange close early at 12:00 pm local on Thursday, for Christmas Eve (Half-Day Trading).
- Next holiday
- Christmas Day, December 25, 2026
- Regular hours
- 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4…
Full schedule and background: HKEX Holidays.
Updated
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) holds half-day trading on Thursday, December 24, 2026, for Christmas Eve. The morning session runs as normal from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm Hong Kong time, but the afternoon session is cancelled and the market closes at 12:00 pm local time. There is no equivalent notion of an ET or London close for this session, since HKEX is a purely local trading day, but 12:00 pm HKT falls at around 4:00 am GMT and 11:00 pm ET the previous evening. Orders not filled by the noon close will need to be re-entered or will carry over, depending on your broker, for the next full trading session. For the full run of dates, see the HKEX holiday calendar.
Which markets are closed on Christmas Eve 2026?
| Market | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HKEX equities | Half-day trading | Closes at 12:00 pm HKT, afternoon session cancelled |
| HKEX derivatives (futures and options) | Half-day trading | Morning session only, in line with the cash market |
| Stock Connect (Northbound and Southbound) | Half-day trading | Follows the HKEX half-day schedule |
| New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq | Open (regular hours) | December 24, 2026 is a normal early-close day only in the US on some years, but is not confirmed as such for 2026 on this calendar; check the NYSE holiday page for confirmation |
| London Stock Exchange | Open (regular hours) | LSE does not observe a half day for Christmas Eve |
| Euronext | Open (regular hours) | No scheduled early close for Christmas Eve |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange | Open (regular hours) | Not a Japanese public holiday |
Is the market open the day before and after?
The trading day before Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 23, 2026, is a normal full session on HKEX with regular hours of 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm HKT. HKEX is then fully closed on Friday, December 25, 2026 for Christmas Day, and remains closed into the weekend. The next trading day after the holiday run is Monday, December 28, 2026, assuming no further closures fall in that window. Investors should note that another half day follows on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2026, before the market closes fully for New Year’s Day.
Why do markets close for Christmas Eve?
Hong Kong’s exchange calendar reflects both its British colonial history and its role as a major international financial centre with a large expatriate and Christian population. Christmas Day itself is a statutory public holiday in Hong Kong, and HKEX has traditionally shortened the trading session on Christmas Eve to allow staff and traders to prepare for the holiday period, a practice mirrored on New Year’s Eve at the other end of the year.
What It Means for Your Money
If you place an order after 12:00 pm HKT on December 24, it will typically queue for execution when trading resumes, since the afternoon session simply does not run rather than being delayed. Settlement of trades executed on the half day follows Hong Kong’s standard T+2 cycle, so a trade on December 24 should settle roughly two business days later, factoring in the following holiday closures. If you hold Hong Kong-listed shares, dividend record dates and options expiry timings set for this window are unaffected in principle but can shift slightly around holiday clusters, so it is worth checking with your broker. Bank transfers and payroll processing in Hong Kong generally continue on a shortened schedule around this period. Cryptocurrency markets are unaffected, since they trade continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of stock exchange holidays.
Remaining HKEX holidays in 2026
- Christmas Day, December 25, 2026: closed
- New Year’s Eve (Half-Day Trading), December 31, 2026: early close at 12:00 pm local
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hong Kong stock market open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Yes, but only for a half day. HKEX trades from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm HKT on Thursday, December 24, 2026, then closes for the rest of the day.
What time does HKEX close on Christmas Eve?
Trading ends at 12:00 pm Hong Kong time, with the usual 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm afternoon session cancelled.
Is the bond market open on Christmas Eve in Hong Kong?
HKEX has not published a separate closure notice for bond trading on this date, so fixed income activity generally follows the same shortened equity session.
When is the next HKEX market holiday after Christmas Eve?
The exchange is fully closed the very next day, Friday, December 25, 2026, for Christmas Day.
Are banks open in Hong Kong on Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve is not a statutory public holiday in Hong Kong, so most banks operate on their normal or slightly adjusted hours, though some branches may close early.