Mumbai, Oct 24 (DHNS): Market regulator Sebi on Friday opened gates for longer trading hours for stock exchanges, allowing the bourses to extend market hours by around two-and-a-half hours between 9 am and 5 pm. The current market hours stand from 9.55 am to 3.30 pm.

“ ... it has been decided to permit the stock exchanges to set their trading hours (in the cash and derivatives segments) subject to the condition that the trading hours are between 9 am and 5 pm,” Sebi said.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) further asked the bourses to reset their timings provided they have in place risk management system and infrastructure commensurate to the trading hours.

It is expected the bourses would utilise the full window between 9 am and 5 pm, experts said.

“All stock exchanges are likely to go for the maximum possible trading hours as they have been demanding for trading hours to be extended to 9 am to 9 pm,” SMC Capitals Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.

It would help brokers and trading community to transact for longer duration and would integrate the domestic market with the international market, Thunuguntla said.