If you woke up today, January 15, 2026, and tried to refresh your portfolio only to see stagnant lines and zero movement in certain sectors, don't panic. Your app isn't broken. But depending on where you are in the world, the "open" sign might be flipped to "closed."
Markets are finicky. They don't just close for the big stuff like New Year's or Christmas. Sometimes it's a local election in a specific city or a "settlement holiday" that throws a wrench in your intraday strategy. Honestly, it’s kinda annoying when you’ve prepped a trade all night only to realize the exchange is taking a nap.
The Big Answer: Are Share Markets Open Today?
Let’s get straight to it. If you are trading in India, the answer is a firm no. Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are closed today, Thursday, January 15, 2026. This isn't a national holiday like Republic Day. It’s actually because of the Municipal Corporation Elections in Maharashtra. Since the heart of India's financial system is in Mumbai, when the city goes to the polls, the markets shut down.
However, if you’re looking at Wall Street (NYSE and NASDAQ) or the London Stock Exchange (LSE), it is business as usual. Those markets are open for their regular sessions.
- US Markets: Open (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET)
- UK Markets: Open (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM GMT)
- Indian Markets: CLOSED (All day)
Why the Indian Market is Ghosting You Today
It’s a bit of a weird situation. Originally, the exchanges had only declared today a "settlement holiday." That would have meant you could still buy and sell, but the money and shares wouldn't move between accounts until the next day.
But then, the Maharashtra government declared a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act for the civic polls. The NSE and BSE had to pivot. They issued a revised circular turning today into a full trading holiday. Basically, if you had options expiring today, they actually expired yesterday, January 14.
Global Market Status for January 15, 2026
While Mumbai is quiet, the rest of the world is screaming. Here is a quick breakdown of what’s happening elsewhere:
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The United States (NYSE & NASDAQ)
Everything is normal on Wall Street. Traders are likely looking ahead to the long weekend, though. See, Monday, January 19, 2026, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The US markets will be closed then. But today? You’re good to go.
United Kingdom (LSE)
The London Stock Exchange is wide open. No bank holidays in sight for the Brits until Good Friday in April. They are running their standard 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM GMT schedule.
Europe (Euronext)
Whether you’re looking at Paris, Amsterdam, or Brussels, the Euronext markets are fully operational today. Much like London, they don't have any major interruptions scheduled for mid-January.
What Happens When a Market is Closed?
You might think, "Hey, I'll just place an order anyway." You can, but it won't execute. It just sits there in "pending" limbo.
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When the NSE/BSE closes for something like an election, it’s not just the floor traders going home. The clearing houses—the guys who actually verify that "Person A" has the money and "Person B" has the stock—are also closed.
Here is what stays shut in India today:
- Equity Cash Market: No buying Reliance or Tata Motors.
- Equity Derivatives: No Nifty or Bank Nifty F&O.
- Currency Derivatives: The USD-INR pairs are frozen.
- Commodity Markets: MCX is closed for the morning session (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM), though it usually opens for the evening session (5:00 PM to 11:30 PM).
Surprising Details About Market Holidays
Did you know that sometimes markets stay open on Sundays? It sounds fake, but in India, if the Union Budget is presented on a Sunday (which might happen on February 1, 2026), the exchanges often hold a special trading session.
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Also, keep an eye on "Settlement Holidays." These are the "hidden" holidays. The market is open, you can trade, but the banking system is closed. This means if you sell stock on a settlement holiday, you might wait an extra day to see that cash hit your ledger. It messes with your liquidity if you aren't prepared.
Pro-Tips for Managing Market Closures
Since you can't trade in India today, use the time to prep for tomorrow.
- Check the Global Cues: Watch how the US and European markets close tonight. If the S&P 500 tanks while India is closed, expect a gap-down opening tomorrow morning.
- Review Your Stop Losses: Since you can't exit a position today, make sure your plan for Friday morning is rock solid.
- Update Your Calendar: The next big closure for the Indian market is January 26 (Republic Day). For the US, it’s January 19. Mark them now so you don't get caught off guard again.
If you’re a crypto trader, none of this matters to you—those markets literally never sleep. But for the rest of us dealing with equities, today is a forced break.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you're an Indian investor, use today to analyze the Q3 earnings results that have been trickling in (like the TCS results from earlier this week). If you're trading US stocks, keep an eye on the 1:00 PM ET mark if it were a half-day, but since it's a full session, just stick to your standard technical analysis. Tomorrow, January 16, all Indian markets will resume normal operations at 9:15 AM IST.