Stock Market Holiday: Which Global Markets Are Shut Today For Boxing Day? | Business News

Trading is thin, with only a few Asian markets active.

Global stock markets are seeing light activity today, December 26, as many major exchanges are closed for Boxing Day. With several countries observing the holiday, trading remains slow and uneven across regions.

Markets in Australia, Hong Kong and much of Europe are shut after Christmas, which has reduced investor participation. As a result, only a few markets are active and even those are seeing limited movement due to low volumes.

Many Global Markets Remain Closed Today

Several key exchanges are not trading today. These include the London Stock Exchange, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Australia’s ASX. Major European markets such as Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Ireland, Switzerland and Nordic exchanges like Stockholm and Helsinki are also closed.

Some European markets, including Germany, Italy and Spain, are open. However, trading there is still weak as many investors are away for the extended holiday period. Boxing Day is a public holiday in countries like the UK, Ireland, Australia and parts of Europe, which explains the widespread shutdowns.

Asian Markets Trade With Limited Activity

While many global markets are closed, a few Asian exchanges reportedly remained open and showed small gains. Markets in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan continued trading, helped by the recent strong performance in US stocks earlier this week.

Japan’s TOPIX rose about 0.5 per cent to hit a new record, as per The Mint. South Korea’s main index gained 0.6a per cent and remains the best-performing major market this year. China’s blue-chip index edged higher and is on track for its strongest yearly performance since 2020.

The broader Asia-Pacific index also rose slightly, marking its sixth straight day of gains. Despite holiday disruptions, markets are seeing some year-end strength.

Metals Shine As Stocks Stay Quiet

Outside equities, precious metals grabbed attention. Silver reportedly jumped over 4 per cent to hit a record high, while gold also reached a fresh peak. Rising global tensions have added to the demand for safe assets.

What Investors Are Watching Next

Looking ahead, investors are keeping an eye on the US interest rate plans for 2026. Markets expect rate cuts later next year, though not before mid-year. There is also a focus on who will replace US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, as that decision could shape market direction once full trading resumes.