Hong Kong Stock Exchange will extend stock trading from four hours daily to five from March 7. The present schedule is from 10 am until noon and then 2:30-4 pm. Under the first phase starting Monday, trading will start at 9:30 am, break for lunch at noon, and then resume trading at 1:30 pm until 4 pm.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange is also planning to extend trading hours in a move that will intensify competition for Hong Kong. Japan’s main equity market will shorten its 90-minute lunch break by ending morning trade half an hour later at 11:30am. The new hours are scheduled to begin on May 9 after regulatory approval is received.