ASX Today, December 24: Early 2:10pm Close and Holiday Settlement Risks
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.
Today’s schedule and what it means for execution
The pre-open runs from 7:00am AEDT and the opening auction starts at 10:00am. Continuous trading ends with the ASX early close at 2:10pm AEDT. A brief closing auction follows. With shorter ASX trading hours, traders should expect less depth later in the day. Time your entries before lunch if possible, when liquidity is usually better even on a half-day.
On half-days, the opening and closing auctions can drive price gaps. Use limit orders instead of market orders to control slippage. Check any Good-Till-Date expiry against today’s shortened ASX trading hours. Be careful with stop orders near the close, as thinner books can trigger fills at unexpected levels.
Equities, ETFs, and listed investment companies trade as usual until the early close. After 2:10pm AEDT, there is no continuous trading. Off-market transfers and block trades still follow the standard ASX settlement T+2 process. Corporate actions timetables are unchanged, but fewer brokers process admin requests after midday on half-days.
Holiday closures and the broader calendar impact
The market is closed on December 25–26 and January 1. December 31 also has an early close at 2:10pm AEDT. For a simple reference, see the holiday schedule for ASX trading hours here: official guide. These changes shape liquidity and settlement timing across the final week of the year.
Shorter ASX trading hours and holidays reduce participation from institutions and market makers. That often means wider bid-ask spreads, fewer resting orders, and more intraday swings from smaller trades. Scale your order size to visible depth and split entries. Avoid chasing moves late in the day when liquidity is most limited on Christmas Eve trading ASX.
Many brokers bring forward cut-offs for deposits, withdrawals, and corporate action elections. Custodian markets may also set earlier instruction deadlines. If you rely on settled cash for a trade, confirm funding windows this morning. Align plans with the ASX early close to avoid failed orders or delays, especially if you need funds for expenses between Christmas and New Year.
Settlement timeline: ASX settlement T+2 in practice
ASX settlement T+2 counts business days only. Trades today, Wed 24 Dec, settle Tue 30 Dec. Trades on Mon 29 Dec settle Wed 31 Dec. Trades on Tue 30 Dec settle Fri 2 Jan, because Jan 1 is a holiday. Trades on Wed 31 Dec settle Mon 5 Jan. Map these dates to cash needs and collateral obligations now.
If you sell today, cash typically arrives on settlement, not trade date. Factor this into margin buffers and bill payments. Record and ex-dates continue to govern dividends and distributions. Always check company notices in case a corporate action or entitlement requires holdings on a specific date during shortened ASX trading hours.
For Australian tax, the capital gains tax event for shares usually occurs on the contract date, which is the trade date, while money moves on settlement. This means a sale today counts for CGT based on today, even though cash arrives on T+2. Keep records clear and confirm details with your accountant if unsure.
Tactics for Christmas Eve trading ASX and next week
Place key orders earlier in the day and prefer limits. Consider smaller clips to reduce market impact. Review conditional orders that might trigger near the close. With compressed ASX trading hours, avoid leaving large market-on-close orders unless you are comfortable with auction volatility.
A Santa-rally tone can appear, but volumes are light. Rebalance positions, update stops, and trim outsized bets rather than chasing late moves. Keep watchlists ready for Dec 29 when more participants return. The aim is steady execution quality, not stretch targets during thin Christmas Eve trading ASX conditions.
Monday Dec 29 can see a rebound in participation, while Dec 31 has another ASX early close at 2:10pm AEDT. Settlement flows also pick up. Double-check broker notices and the ASX holiday calendar: ASX trading hours schedule. Plan trades and funding around these dates to avoid surprises.
Final Thoughts
Today’s ASX early close at 2:10pm AEDT shortens liquidity windows and changes execution dynamics. Use limit orders, place key trades earlier, and scale size to depth. Map ASX settlement T+2 across December 24, 29, 30, and 31 so cash, margin, and admin deadlines are covered. Remember the market is closed on December 25–26 and January 1, with another early close on December 31. We suggest checking your broker’s cut-offs this morning and confirming ASX trading hours and holiday dates before entering end-of-year orders.
FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
