HK stock market to extend trading hours
( 2002-07-26 14:02 ) (7 )

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong will extend its trading hours by an hour, the Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Ltd. (HKEx) said Friday.

The HKEx board Friday approved the proposal which still needs regulatory approval, a spokesman said.

A starting date for the new trading hours has yet to be decided, he added.

Under the proposal, the lunch break will be cut by 30 minutes to an hour and a half and the market will close half an hour later at 4:30 pm (0830 GMT), the HKEx spokesman said.

The exchange would continue to open at 10:00 am, with the morning session ending at 12:30 pm. The derivatives market will close at 4:45 pm.

The move was part of HKEx's market development strategy to maintain its competitiveness and to strengthen its position as the leading financial centre in Asia.

Hong Kong stock exchange provides the shortest trading session among major international exchanges.

Several regional markets are also planning longer trading hours.