Madrid Stock Exchange Operating Hours: Complete Guide to Trading Hours

The Spanish Market and Its Functioning

The Madrid Stock Exchange is the main financial operations center in Spain, coordinated through the Spanish Stock Market Interconnection System (SIBE). This system manages the joint activity of four stock exchanges: Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, and Bilbao, all operating under a common regulatory framework since their integration in 1995. The comprehensive management of these operations has been handled by Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) since 2001.

Trading Hours: What time does the stock exchange close today and when does it open?

The Madrid market operates according to a scheme of three well-defined phases:

Pre-opening Phase (Opening Auction)
Starts at 8:30 am and lasts until 9:00 am local time (CEST). During this period, pending orders from the previous day are matched along with new instructions received during this auction phase, thus determining the opening price.

Regular Trading Session
Normal trading runs from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm local time. This period constitutes the main window of market activity, and knowing what time the stock exchange closes is crucial for closing positions.

Post-close Phase (Closing Auction)
Runs from 5:30 pm to 5:35 pm. During this final period, orders that did not find a match during the regular session are executed, establishing a final equilibrium price.

The IBEX 35 and Major Companies

The IBEX 35 index was launched on January 14, 1992, grouping the 35 companies with the highest market capitalization in Spain. It features financial giants like BBVA and Banco Santander, globally significant construction firms such as ACS, Ferrovial, and Acciona, as well as retail leaders like Inditex. These corporations not only dominate the national economy but also exert significant influence in Latin American markets.

Historical Context and Institutional Evolution

The history of the Madrid Stock Exchange dates back to September 10, 1831, when the founding regulations drafted by jurist Pedro Sainz de Andino were enacted. The first traded securities from October 20 of that year were banking, steel, and railway instruments.

Other exchanges gradually joined: Bilbao in 1890, Barcelona in 1915, and Valencia later in 1980. Their integration into the SIBE during 1995 marked a key milestone in consolidating a unified market.

Suspension Calendar and Half-Day Trading Days

The Madrid Stock Exchange will be fully closed on the following dates in 2025:

• January 1 (New Year)
• April 18 (Good Friday)
• April 21 (Easter Monday)
• May 1 (Labor Day)
• December 25 (Christmas)
• December 26 (St. Stephen’s Day)

Additionally, reduced trading days may be announced according to the official Trading Calendar.

Hours from other Spanish-speaking cities

For operators in other regions, the following table indicates the opening and closing hours of the Madrid Stock Exchange in selected time zones:

Next steps to start trading

Knowing these hours is the first step. To begin trading:

1. Register on an authorized platform
2. Complete the deposit of funds
3. Make your first trades