What are the ASX trading hours on Christmas Eve?

On Christmas Eve the ASX runs a half-day. Pre-open begins at 7:00am AEDT, the opening auction is at 10:00am, and continuous trading finishes at 2:10pm AEDT, followed by a short closing auction. Liquidity tends to thin after midday, so many traders aim to execute important orders earlier.

How do holidays affect ASX settlement T+2 this week?

T+2 counts business days only. A trade on Wed 24 Dec settles Tue 30 Dec. Mon 29 Dec settles Wed 31 Dec. Tue 30 Dec settles Fri 2 Jan due to the New Year’s Day holiday. Wed 31 Dec settles Mon 5 Jan. Plan cash needs and margin buffers around these dates.

Should I use market or limit orders today?

Use limit orders to control slippage because books are thinner on half-days. Market orders can fill at worse prices when spreads widen. Break large trades into smaller pieces and avoid leaving big orders for the close, where auction volatility can be higher on short ASX trading hours days.

Are broker funding and admin cut-offs earlier on half-days?

Often yes. Many brokers bring forward cash transfer, corporate action, and settlement instruction cut-offs on half-days. Check your broker’s messages this morning so deposits clear when needed and orders are not rejected for insufficient funds. Align any required admin with the 2:10pm AEDT early close.

Global Market Insights

ASX Today, December 24: Early 2:10pm Close and Holiday Settlement Risks

ByHuzaifa Zahoor December 24, 2025December 24, 2025

ASX trading hours change today with an early close at 2:10pm AEDT. Liquidity is thinner and spreads can widen, so order timing matters. The market is shut on December 25–26 and January 1, which pushes ASX settlement T+2 into next week. We explain what this means for cash, positions, and year-end moves. Plan orders for Christmas Eve trading ASX and be ready for Dec 29 rebound sessions and Dec 31’s early close.