Iran bourse reopens after 80-day halt

Iran reopened its stock market on Tuesday after an 80-day suspension imposed during the war involving the United States and Israel, according to Iranian officials cited by state media and other reports. Shares, equity funds and equity-linked derivatives returned to trading on May 19, with the reopening ending a halt that began on February 28. Iranian authorities said they also extended market hours to give listed companies more time to publish information delayed during the closure. Hamid Yari, deputy supervisor at Iran’s Securities and Exchange Organization, said the shutdown had been intended to protect investors during the conflict. His comments, carried by IRNA and cited by Reuters and other outlets, framed the halt as a measure to prevent panic-driven trading and allow prices to reset with fuller disclosures. The reopening comes as investors continue to watch oil prices and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy flows. ### Why was the market closed for 80 days? February 28 was the last trading day before the suspension, according to multiple reports on the reopening. The market was shut after missile strikes on Tehran and other parts of Iran during the war involving the United States and Israel, leaving the exchange closed through late winter and spring. (dawn.com) Hamid Yari said the purpose of the halt was to protect shareholders’ assets, prevent emotionally driven trading and create conditions for more transparent pricing once the market reopened. That explanation has been repeated in state-linked and international coverage of the restart. ### What exactly resumed on Tuesday? May 19 marked the restart of trading in shares, equity funds and equity-linked derivatives, with trading also scheduled to continue on Wednesday before the Iranian weekend. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) IFN Investor reported that Iran Fara Bourse also resumed regular trading in equities and related instruments from the same date. (dawn.com) Trading hours were extended by one hour, according to Economic Times and Al Jazeera, to give major companies time to disclose war-related damage and other information that had built up during the stoppage. Those disclosures are part of the authorities’ effort to reopen with fuller information available to investors. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) ### What shape was the market in before trading stopped? TEDPIX, the Tehran Stock Exchange’s benchmark index, had reached nearly 4.5 million points at the start of 2026, according to Al Jazeera and Economic Times. By the last snapshot before the closure, Al Jazeera said the index had fallen to nearly 3.7 million points as protests, an internet shutdown and rising war fears pushed money out of equities. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Al Jazeera reported that the exchange is not Iran’s main source of economic financing, where banks and the state play larger roles, but said the reopening could still offer a read on investor trust and market liquidity. That assessment was Al Jazeera’s, not an official Iranian statement. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) ### Why are traders watching oil and shipping so closely? The Strait of Hormuz remained a central concern for traders on May 19 because it carries roughly one-fifth of global petroleum consumption and a similar share of liquefied natural gas exports, according to Economic Times. Any disruption there can quickly affect freight costs, insurance and crude prices. (aljazeera.com) Social-media posts cited in the source briefings said traders were also focused on crude near $100 a barrel and continued shipping risks through Hormuz. Those posts were not official market data, but they matched the broader focus on energy and transport risk around the reopening. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) ### What comes next for investors and listed companies? May 20 is the next scheduled trading day before the Iranian weekend, with listed companies expected to continue publishing delayed disclosures from the closure period. The Securities and Exchange Organization has said all capital-market sectors will resume, according to Hamid Yari’s comments cited by Reuters via Dawn. (dawn.com) (economictimes.indiatimes.com)