London Stock Exchange shuts as mark of respect for Queen's funeral

London Stock Exchange shuts for Queen’s funeral: FTSE 100 and Commonwealth markets cease trading today as mark of respect

  • The London Stock Exchange has closed for the Queen’s funeral – a bank holiday
  • Markets will close elsewhere in the Commonwealth, such as in New Zealand
  • Commonwealth leaders are attending funeral but nations not having day off
  • Follow MailOnline’s LIVEBLOG for updates as state funeral is held for Queen Elizabeth II in London today 
  • The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

Trading terminals in London are not opening today as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II, whose state funeral is taking place.

The London Stock Exchange extended its sympathies to the Royal Family and announced it will not trade at all.

While markets in other Commonwealth countries plan to mark the monarch’s death by closing for public holidays in the coming days.

The London markets, including the FTSE 100 and associated trading indexes, have operated every day since the Queen’s death was announced on Thursday September 8.

But today, which is a public bank holiday, will be the first day during the official period of mourning that they will not open at all.

Trading terminals in London are not operating today as several markets around the world prepare to mark the death of the Queen

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is taking place today, and a national bank holiday was announced for the occasion

How are Commonwealth nations paying their respects?

Commonwealth leaders have been travelling to London for the Queen’s funeral today.

Many of the 56 nations have made efforts to pay their respect since September 8.

Australia: Australians will get a public holiday on Thursday September 22, on which day the Australian Securities Exchange will also close.

Canada: Today has been marked as a federal holiday, but the Toronto Stock Exchange will continue to trade

New Zealand: Will have a public holiday on September 26, when the New Zealand’s exchange will close

Malta: Government departments will have flags raised half-mast to mark the Queen’s funeral and Malta will observe a day of mourning

India: The day after the Queen’s death India observed a national day of mourning with flags flying at half mast and all official entertainment was cancelled

Pakistan: Mourned the death of the British monarch in an official capacity on September 12 

South Africa:  President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his condolences following the death of the Queen

Nigeria: President Buhari ordered flags at Nigerian government buildings and foreign missions to fly at half mast for two days following the announcement

The London Stock Exchange Group said last week: ‘We are deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

‘Our sympathies and condolences are with the royal family.’

The stock exchange normally closes for bank holidays and weekends.

It said: ‘On the day of the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, the London Stock Exchange would be closed for trading.

‘It is to remain open for trading as usual during the official period of mourning.

‘More information on our business days is available via our website.’

Many other businesses have decided to close for some or all of Monday, although they are not required to do so.

King Charles III speaks with Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese

In Canada, where the Queen was head of state, the government has declared Monday a federal holiday to mark the funeral, but the Toronto Stock Exchange will continue to trade as normal, it announced.

In Australia, Monday will be a normal working day, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australians will get a public holiday on Thursday September 22.

On that day Sydney’s Australian Securities Exchange will be closed.

New Zealand’s bank holiday is not until Monday September 26. The New Zealand’s exchange will close that day.

In the UK, supermarkets, restaurants and retail stores are all shut so workers can pay tribute to the Queen on the day of her state funeral.

The public bank holiday has seen a host of businesses lock up for the day despite not being required to – from everyday convenience shops to large tourist attractions.

In London, road closures are in place across the city and some Tube stations are out of use due to the largest policing operation in the Met’s history.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi are among those closing their supermarket stores for the day.

Other high street retailers, such as Marks & Spencer and Primark, also said they will shut for the day, while cinema chains such as Cineworld and Odeon have announced plans to keep their venues shut, too.

Bin collections, driving tests and a number of hospital appointments have all also been scrapped, while there are closures at English Heritage and National Trust sites.

Popular holiday spot Center Parcs is closing its on-site facilities today, but guests are allowed to remain in lodges and walk around, despite bosses initially threatening to boot them out.

Source: Read Full Article