Below are the opening hours for the London Stock Exchange during the festive period. Please note that the MoneyAM office will be following the same schedule as the LSE.

London Stock Exchange

Friday 22nd Dec: Half Day (Market closes at 12.30)
Monday 25th Dec: Market Closed
Tuesday 26th Dec: Market Closed
Wednesday 27th Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Thursday 28th Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Friday 29th Dec: Half Day (Market closes at 12.30)
Monday 1st Jan: Market Closed
Tuesday2nd Jan: Normal Opening Hours

NYSE and Nasdaq

Friday 22nd Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Monday 25th Dec: Market Closed
Tuesday 26th Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Wednesday 27th Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Thursday 28th Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Friday 29th Dec: Normal Opening Hours
Monday 1st Jan: Market Closed
Tuesday 2nd Jan: Normal Opening Hours


Ian

I dont see why people make a fuss over religion - if you dont like it or what it speaks for then just ignore it! Chrsitams is fun, its a time for giving not necessarily a relegious event for a large portion of the nation. Its more of a national holiday.
And as for the politically correct fuss nowadays why should we have to change if muslims dont like christmas decorations, first off this is a chrsitian country ( Even though no one really cares about it anymore) but still why should we have to change for people who have moved here from a foreign country? We try and accept their culture they can accept ours.

As far as I know, no one has been punished or stigmatised in recently years in the UK for not partaking ...

Yes, it is more commercial than religious. Wasteful in many ways. Some people will drink too much and hurt others and themselved. Sink some people into deeper debt. Stressed out with social intercourses. But it is also an occasion to relax, for those who can avoid the crowd; to be silly; to unwind; to disregard the need for longer tapes the measure the waistline; to show some kindness, if only once a year for some people; to be cheerful; to sing; to praise and celebrate, for those who believe.

IMHO, those,including atheists, who truely believe in what they claim to believe, would not find other people's belief threatening.

Through one of his discworld characters, Terry Pratchett had some good observations about belief. Will post later when I find the book.

These are neither endorsements nor criticisms of any religion (including atheism which is a religion).

Extracts from "The Hogfather" which, IMHO, would not offend those who believe in Xmas for its religious significances.

Part of the conversation between Susan, Death's grand-daughter and Death who always speaks in capital letters ! :-)

---

TRICKERY WITH WORDS IS WHERE HUMANS LIVE.

---

HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.

'Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little --'

YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.

'So we can believe the big ones?'

YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.

'They are not the same at all!'

YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.

'Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what is the point--'

MY POINT EXACTLY.

---

OH, YES. A VERY SPECIAL KIND OF STUPIDITY. YOU THINK THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS INSIDE YOUR HEADS.

'You make us sound mad,'

NO YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?'

---

I am a massive fan of Terry Pratchett. I have read all his novels and aside from the fact they are side splittingly funny, there is an abundance of truisms and incredible insights into the human psyche.
Alan

I was particularly taken with the fact that DEATH, being a Horseman of the Apocalypse, naturally had a horse -- called 'Binky'.

MM,
The film is not a patch on the books. I cannot recommend them highly enough to any who have not read them.

The voice of DEATH was good in the film, but a little .... HUMAN.

2 really disappointing aspects were Nobby Nobbs, who was completely wrong and the more foregivable issue that the bulk of the humour lies in the narrative and the prose, both of which do not transfer very well to the screen, but it was a pretty good attempt.
I would now like to see "Men at Arms" or "Nightwatch" given the same treatment.

Any choice with the luggage or DEATH would be fine. Then again, I might leave it to my imaginations :-)

In these days of media gagging/control and PCs, we are depending more on truisms in fictions.

The Last Continent perhaps??
Just Love Rincewind. There is a wizzard after my own heart.

Good choice :-)

post deleted by moderator

and thats what i mean.

Hostpitals send patients home at Christmas whether the patients are Christian or not... so that the nurses can celebrate the birth of Christ by going to Church? I think not. Similarly doctors´surgeries will have reduced hours. Many banks and libraries will be closed. Public transport curtailed... the list is endless. And the stock exchange finishes early! Those facets of the Christian religion are forced on all of us whether we chose to partake or not.

One can imagine the outcry if all restuarants were foced to close during daylight hours while other religions fasted!

You and I may agree that those things are all OK, because British life has for centuries revolved around Christianity and are part of our upbringing... but potatohead is entitled to question it.

Maggot,

OK, I hear what you are saying and agree about the inconveniences. I guess it is a custom most of us got used to. Predictability is comfortable and often necessary.

Wonder what it is like during local "religious" festivals in other countries?
eg. India (mainly Hindus?), Israel (Judaism), Japan (Buddhism?), Saudi Arabia (Islam).

Also agree potatohead, and anyone else, is entitled to question and to air his opinions which I hope he will continue. Perhaps we need to add lots of :-)))

Is not LSE a private company who can decide when they will provide their service?

Many years ago I read that some French company have their "Xmas" closures in August ...

Ian, thanks for adding NYSE and Nasdaq info. Now I know when it will be safe to leave my screen :-)

excellent podcast my money am team do we all need to invest in Finland next year up 25%??.... seasons greetings

Nasdac to close Tuesday to honour Pres. Ford.
Likely NYSE will close as well.

I can confirm that the NYSE and the Nasdaq will be closed on Jan 2 in honor of Gerald Ford.

On edit:

As of 11:45 AM Eastern time, the following exchanges have announced they will be closed on 1/2/2007 (Tuesday) in honor of President Ford's Funeral:
NYSE/ARCA
NASDAQ
AMEX
OneChicago
CFE
CBOE
OPRA
NYMEX

Happy new year, oh my head!

o:(