What time does the Madrid Stock Exchange close? Full schedule and everything you need to know

Are you planning to operate in the Spanish market? It is essential to know when the main Iberian stock exchange opens and closes. Below, we present a comprehensive guide on the trading hours of the Madrid Stock Exchange.

Madrid Stock Exchange Trading Schedule

The regular trading session runs from Monday to Friday with the following timetable:

Initial auction phase: 8:30 am to 9:00 am (local time CEST) Regular trading: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (local time CEST) Final auction phase: 5:30 pm to 5:35 pm (local time CEST)

On Saturdays and Sundays, the market remains closed, with no trading activity.

What time does trading start?

The Madrid Stock Exchange begins its regular trading session at 9:00 am local time. Before this, between 8:30 and 9:00 am, the opening auction occurs, where all pending and new orders are matched to determine the initial price.

Market closing: operational details

The regular trading closes at 5:30 pm local time. After this, a second closing auction (5:30 pm to 5:35 pm) is conducted, where an equilibrium price is set for unexecuted orders.

Strategic importance of knowing these hours

The Madrid Stock Exchange is the epicenter of Spanish financial activity and hosts the country’s leading corporations. Giants like BBVA, Banco Santander, Inditex, ACS, Ferrovial, and Acciona are listed here, many with international reach, especially in Latin America.

The IBEX 35 index, which groups the 35 largest-cap companies, reflects the health of the Spanish market. Understanding the trading hours is essential for executing strategies without restrictions on these key assets.

The SIBE System: the integrated network of Spanish stock exchanges

Although “the Madrid Stock Exchange” is commonly referenced as a single entity, it actually operates within the SIBE (Sistema de Interconexión Bursátil Español), a structure that links four markets: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao. Since 1995, these exchanges have been integrated, and since 2001, their management has been under Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME).

Historical context of the main Spanish market

The institution was created on September 10, 1831, through the Law of Creation of the Madrid Stock Exchange, drafted by the Sevillian jurist Pedro Sainz de Andino. Operations began on October 20 of the same year with banks, steel companies, and railway companies as the first listed securities.

Subsequent secondary exchanges were established: Bilbao in 1890, Barcelona in 1915, and Valencia in 1980. The IBEX 35 index was established on January 14, 1992, as a market benchmark.

Trading before and after the main hours

Beyond the regular session, there are specialized trading windows. The opening auction (8:30 am to 9:00 am) allows investors to submit orders that will be executed based on supply and demand, thus determining the starting price.

The closing auction (5:30 pm to 5:35 pm) operates similarly but at the end of the session, allowing the execution of orders that did not find a counterparty during normal hours, establishing an equilibrium price.

Holiday closing schedule for 2025

The Madrid Stock Exchange publishes its operational calendar annually. For 2025, the non-trading days are:

• Wednesday, January 1
• Friday, April 18
• Monday, April 21
• Thursday, May 1
• Thursday, December 25
• Friday, December 26

Additionally, there may be days with reduced hours (half sessions).

Time conversion for investors in Latin America

For operators located in Spanish-speaking territories, here is the time equivalence:

With this complete information about when the Madrid Stock Exchange closes and its operating hours, you can plan your investment strategies synchronized with the Spanish market session.