As a rule, the choice of certain trading instruments is rather limited at the start of May as people in many countries celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1. For instance, stock exchanges in the UK, France, Germany, and Switzerland will be closed.

However, Forex will operate normally, including the countries listed above.

Apart from International Workers’ Day, there are plenty of other public holidays in May which will impact stock trading in many countries. For example, equity markets in Japan will be closed for a long weekend from May 3-7 on the occasion of three national holidays in a row – Constitution Day, Greenery Day, and World Children's Day. The UK will celebrate Bank Holidays on May 8 and 29. The LSE and other stock exchanges will be closed. In the US, Memorial Day will take place on May 29. None of the stock exchanges and banks will operate in the country. The Toronto Stock Exchange has a holiday on Victoria Day, scheduled for May 22.

Despite the abundance of May holidays, please note that the foreign exchange market will work normally and will be closed only on regular weekends.

May 5, 2023

International Workers’ Day in the UK, France, Germany, and Switzerland

#LSE – closed for the whole day

#DAX – closed for the whole day

#CAC – closed for the whole day

#SIX – closed for the whole day

#TSE – closed for the whole day

May 3–5, 2023

Constitution Day, Greenery Day, and World Children's Day in Japan

#TSE – closed for the whole day

May 22, 2023

Victoria Day in Canada

#TSX – closed the whole day

May 29, 2023

Memorial Day in the US, Bank Holidays in the UK

#LSE – closed for the whole day

#NYSE – closed for the whole day

#NASDAQ – closed for the whole day