Overview Of Japanese Stock Market Holidays

There are a number of international stock exchanges. To name a few prominent ones, we have New York, London and Tokyo. Each of them are closed on certain days of the year. This article takes a look at Japanese Stock Market Holidays.

International Stock Exchanges usually have a list of holidays. In most cases the exchanges follow different holidays. The two days in the year when most exchanges are closed are New Year's Day and Christmas.

Holidays are usually predetermined for each of the exchanges. In rare cases Stock Exchanges close on account of unprecedented events or occasions.

If you are a trader or broker who is interested in working with stocks listed on Japan's stock exchanges then it is essential for you to have a list of the holidays that Japanese Stock exchanges follow. This is similar to going to work and knowing when you have a day off. The holidays are usually listed on the web sites of any one Japanese Stock exchange. The Holiday Calendar for the stock exchanges are usually for the current and the next calendar year.

As is the pattern with most international stock exchanges, Japanese stock exchanges are open five days a week. Saturdays and Sundays are weekly offs. Besides the weekend, Japanese stock exchanges observe national and market holidays.

A national holiday would be of utmost importance. It falls in with the rest of the nation observing a holiday. A market holiday as the phrase suggests would be a holiday when the stock market does not function. Another thing to keep in mind is that most holidays do not fall on the same day of the year. In other words in 'Ocean's Day' falls on July 16 in 2007-2008, in 2008-2009 it falls on Jul 21. For reasons which are obvious Jan 1 (New Years Day) will fall on the same day each year.

The list of Japanese Stock Market Holidays for the year 2007 is given below

Jan 1 New Years Day Jan 8 Coming of Age Day Feb 12 National Foundation Day Mar 21 Vernal Equinox Apr 30 Showa Day May 3 Constitution Memorial Day May 4 Greenery Day Jul 16 Ocean Day Sep 17 Respect for the Aged Day Sep 24 Autumn Equinox Oct 8 Health Sports Day Nov 23 Labor Thanksgiving Day Dec 24 Emperor's Birthday

Besides the above mentioned national holidays, the markets remain closed on Jan 2nd , 3rd and Dec 31. There are certain days of the year when the Japanese Stock market is open only for a half day. These days are Jan 4 & Dec 28.

If you are a trade or a prospective investor looking for investment opportunities in Japanese Stock then getting to know about Japanese Stock Market Holidays well in advance can be of immense benefit to you.