Stock market holidays: Amid the ongoing Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year 2026, several stock markets across Asia will continue to remain closed on Wednesday, February 18.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange will remain closed for trading till February 23. The trading activities will resume on February 24.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange will also remain shut till February 19, and will reopen on February 20.
Likewise, the Singapore Exchange will also be closed for trading till February 18.
Meanwhile, the Taiwan Stock Exchange is observing an extended holiday from February 15 to February 20 due to adjustments in the holiday calendar.
In Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia will remain closed on February 18, with trading set to restart on February 19.
On the other hand, other Asian markets like Tokyo Stock Exchange will be open for trade today, Wednesday.
Here’s a full list of Asian markets closed for trading on Wednesday, February 18 –
Asian markets today
Asian markets posted modest gains in subdued holiday trading, even as US markets swung sharply, with investors remaining uneasy about the outlook for artificial intelligence after several turbulent sessions that dragged major benchmarks away from record levels.
Shares advanced in Japan and Australia, pushing the MSCI Asia Pacific Index about 0.6% higher following three consecutive days of losses. The uptick came after a choppy session on US markets, where the S&P 500 ended with a marginal gain of 0.1%.
According to a Bloomberg report, concerns around artificial intelligence are also weighing on sentiment in Asia, which hosts a significant share of the world’s semiconductor design and hardware production. The volatility triggered by AI reflects a tension between fears that the technology could disrupt large parts of the global economy and scepticism over whether the substantial investments being made will deliver meaningful returns in the near term.
