Madrid Stock Exchange: trading hours and everything you need to know to trade

The Engine of Spanish Markets and How It Works

The Madrid Stock Exchange represents the main trading center for securities in Spain, integrating the coordinated activity of four national stock exchanges under the SIBE(Sistema de Interconexión Bursátil Español) system. This market is not only essential for Spanish investors but also serves as the basis for calculating the IBEX 35 index, which groups the 35 largest companies by market capitalization in the country.

For any operator seeking to access the main opportunities in the Spanish market, understanding what time the stock exchange opens and closes is absolutely essential.

What time do Spanish markets operate?

The regular trading session runs from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (local time CEST). This eight-and-a-half-hour window represents the period with the highest activity and liquidity in the market.

However, the trading day extends beyond these conventional hours. Before the start of the regular session, there is an opening auction period from 8:30 am to 9:00 am. During this time, pending orders from the previous close along with new orders are processed, thus determining the opening price of the day.

Similarly, after the conclusion of the regular session at 5:30 pm, a closing auction is held until 5:35 pm. During this period, an equilibrium price is sought for orders that did not find a counterparty during the day.

Weekly operation calendar

The Madrid Stock Exchange operates only from Monday to Friday, maintaining consistency in its trading calendar. Each of these five days has identical hours:

Trading week:

• Monday to Friday: opening auction 8:30-9:00 am, regular session 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, closing auction 5:30-5:35 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: markets closed

Know when the stock exchange closes and other operational considerations

Operators should keep in mind that the time the Madrid stock exchange closes also determines their opportunity windows for closing positions. The closing time is set at 5:30 pm local time, when the regular session ends. Many investors liquidate positions before market close at this point.

Additionally, the annual calendar includes holidays when markets remain closed. For 2025, these days include January 1, April 18 and 21, May 1, and December 25 and 26. Half-day sessions with reduced hours may also occur.

A history of over a century

The Madrid Stock Exchange was established on September 10, 1831, by the Creation Law, beginning operations on October 20 of the same year. The first transactions involved securities from banking entities, steel companies, and railway societies.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, other Spanish stock exchanges were incorporated: Bilbao in 1890, Barcelona in 1915, and finally Valencia in 1980. The integration of all of them under the SIBE framework occurred in 1995, while its management was taken over by Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) in 2001.

The IBEX 35 index was subsequently launched on January 14, 1992, establishing itself as the main indicator of the Spanish stock market.

Where the main Spanish companies converge

This stock exchange lists the most relevant corporations in Spain, many of which have significant international reach. The presence of large global financial entities, world-renowned construction firms, and leaders in sectors such as retail positions this market as a must-visit destination for international investors interested in Spanish-speaking economies.

Time correspondence for international investors

For those operating from different Spanish-speaking regions, it is useful to know the time equivalence:

From major Latin American capitals:

• Caracas: open 3:00 am, close 11:30 pm
• Lima: open 2:00 am, close 10:30 pm
• Buenos Aires: open 4:00 am, close 12:30 pm
• Mexico City: open 1:00 am, close 9:30 pm
• Santiago de Chile: open 3:00 am, close 11:30 pm
• Bogotá: open 2:00 am, close 10:30 pm
• La Paz: open 3:00 am, close 11:30 pm
• Quito: open 2:00 am, close 10:30 pm
• Montevideo: open 4:00 am, close 12:30 pm

Start your participation in Spanish markets

If you want to get involved in trading Spanish securities, the process is straightforward: register on an authorized platform, deposit funds, and start trading within the established hours.