KUALA LUMPUR (March 18): Bursa Malaysia will be closed on March 20 and March 23, ending days of uncertainty over the additional trading holidays declared in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The closure applies regardless of the actual date Aidilfitri falls on. Trading on Bursa Malaysia will resume on March 24 after the long weekend, according to a circular from Bursa Malaysia sent to brokers on Wednesday.

All “Good-Till-Date” and “Good-Till-Cancelled” orders scheduled to expire on March 20 and March 23 will automatically lapse at 5.30pm on March 19. The measure ensures orderly settlement and prevents any unintended carryover during the extended holiday period, the exchange noted.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government has agreed to provide an additional day off subject to the date of the declaration of Syawal 1 on either March 20 or March 21.

However, the holidays were pending official federal government gazette that was finally issued on Wednesday at a time of heightened caution in financial markets over the Iran war that shows no signs of abating.

Both the securities and derivatives markets will operate under normal trading hours on March 19, Bursa Malaysia said in a statement on Wednesday. However, there will be no T+1 night trading session for the derivatives market on Thursday.

Bursa Gold Dinar and Bursa Suq Al-Sila’ will remain open for trading online during the public holiday, the exchange said in a statement.

Read also:
PM announces additional public holiday ahead of Aidilfitri