Changes in HK trading hours

I read with amusement the news that HK stock exchange is lengthening its hours from the usual 10 am (singapore time) to 12 noon, then 230pm to 4pm, to the final 930am to 12, then 1pm to 4pm. The point of doing this is to ensure the HKSE remains competitive and have more turnover. I think the stock broker must have been cursing and swearing because their working hours changes from the current 3.5 hrs to the final 5.5 hrs. They should have come to SGX because the hours here are from 9am to 1230pm, then 2pm to 5pm, a total of 6.5hrs!



They mentioned that the shorter lunch hour will reduce volatility and make the transition from morning session to afternoon session smoother. Okay, perhaps so. But as far as I can tell, the afternoon session in HK is more affected by how the european market opens.

I think the HK brokers will have to do this because of the shortened lunch break

Anyway, since I do the HK market too, it's important to keep up to date with the changes in the HK trading hours. They are going to do it in stages, to ease the pain I suppose. Here's the summary:



Current: 10am to 1230pm, 230pm to 4pm
7th March 2011 to 31 December 2011: 930am to 12pm, 130pm to 4pm
1st Jan 2012 onwards: 930am to 12pm, 1pm to 4pm