Hong Kong faces pressure to speed up trading hours review after South Korea’s move

Korea Exchange launches four-hour after-market in addition to regular trading, intensifying debate in Hong Kong over extending hours

Hong Kong’s stock market is facing fresh pressure to accelerate its review of longer trading hours after South Korea’s main bourse extended its session by four hours on Monday, according to an industry player.

The Korea Exchange, South Korea’s bourse operator, launched a real-time after-market from 4pm to 8pm in addition to regular trading from 9am to 3.30pm.

It also signalled ambitions to expand to nearly 24-hour trading, following similar plans by Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange.

The extension means South Korea’s main stock market now trades 10 and a half hours on weekdays, almost double Hong Kong’s five and a half hours from 9.30am to 4pm with a one-hour lunch break.

The latest move by South Korea could prompt HKEX and the SFC to speed up consultation, said Tom Chan Pak-lam, honorary president of the Institute of Securities Dealers.