Madrid Stock Exchange Operations: Trading Hours You Need to Know

For any investor wishing to participate in the Spanish markets, mastering trading times is essential. The Madrid Stock Exchange is the main stock center in Spain and coordinates the joint activity of four markets through the SIBE (Spanish Interconnection System). Understanding what time the stock exchange closes, when it begins operations, and how auctions work is fundamental to executing strategies smoothly.

Trading Day: Complete Operating Hours

The market operates Monday to Friday with a structure that includes auction periods and continuous trading:

Times expressed in CEST (Central European Summer Time)

Saturdays and Sundays are non-operational. During the week, the Spanish Stock Exchange maintains consistent regularity, allowing local and international investors access to the main Spanish securities.

What time does the Madrid Stock Exchange start operations?

After the opening auction begins at 8:30 am, regular trading kicks off at 9:00 am (local time, CEST zone). This is when the opening price is set after processing all accumulated orders during the previous auction.

What time does the stock exchange close, and how does it operate?

The question of what time the Madrid Stock Exchange closes is key for traders: the regular session ends at 5:30 pm (local time). Immediately afterward, the closing auction takes place, extending until 5:35 pm and serving to execute pending orders at the resulting equilibrium price.

Origins and importance of the Spanish market

Founded on September 10, 1831, the Madrid Stock Exchange has evolved from its early days as a trading center for banks, railroads, and steel companies. The integration with the Barcelona (1915), Bilbao (1890), and Valencia (1980) stock exchanges created a unified system starting in 1995. Since 2001, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) manages these operations.

The IBEX 35 index, created in 1992, includes the 35 companies with the highest market capitalization: from global financial entities like BBVA and Banco Santander to international constructors like ACS, Ferrovial, and Inditex, the country’s largest retailer. This composition reflects the robustness and global projection of Spanish companies.

Pre-market and post-market: auctions before and after

Before the regular session begins, there is a pre-trading period from 8:30 am to 9:00 am (opening auction). During this interval, unexecuted orders from the previous session along with new orders are processed, determining the day’s opening price.

Similarly, after closing at 5:30 pm, a closing auction operates, lasting five minutes. This mechanism allows delayed orders to find counterparties at the equilibrium price established at that moment.

2025 holiday calendar

Trading is suspended 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 (Day after Christmas)

Additionally, there may be days with shortened sessions.

Time zone equivalents in Latin America

For investors located in different Spanish-speaking cities, here is the time correlation:

Knowing these times ensures you can operate at the right moments, regardless of your geographical zone.