Markets · · 2 min read
Editor: Bohdan S.
Hong Kong exchange weighs scrapping its lunch break for a longer trading day
HKEX is discussing ending its midday pause, the FT reported, as US exchanges race toward near round-the-clock trading and Asian markets fight for investors.
The short answer
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is discussing doing away with the stock market's one-hour lunch break, the Financial Times (FT) reported, as Nasdaq prepares to trade 23 hours a day. Earlier reports said one option would open trading 30 minutes earlier and add about 27% more continuous trading time.
What happened
HKEX, which runs Hong Kong's stock market, is discussing ending the midday trading pause and lengthening the trading day, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Friday, noting that Nasdaq is planning a move to 23-hour trading. The idea has been building for months. In July, Bloomberg reported that one option would start continuous trading at 9 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m. and remove the break between noon and 1 p.m., while keeping the 4 p.m. close. Julia Leung, chief executive of the Securities and Futures Commission, the city's market regulator, later said HKEX would publish a consultation paper on longer hours. No date or timetable has been set.
What it means
Most big stock markets trade straight through the day. Hong Kong is one of the few major venues that still stops for lunch, along with mainland China and Tokyo, according to The Standard. Removing the pause and opening earlier would add 90 minutes of continuous trading, an increase of about 27%, Finance Magnates calculated from the reported option.
The pressure comes largely from the US. Nasdaq won approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission in April to run 23 hours a day, five days a week, and plans to start on December 6. Cboe aims to offer near round-the-clock weekday trading on its EDGX venue in December, subject to approval, and NYSE Arca is preparing a 23-hour schedule. If American shares can be traded during Asian daytime, Hong Kong risks losing some activity in stocks that are listed in both places.
Hong Kong's plan is narrower than the US approach. Earlier reports said HKEX was also looking at an evening session, between 8 p.m. and midnight, limited to a small number of large stocks, partly to capture early US trading and lift local volumes in companies that also have American depositary receipts, which are US-traded certificates representing foreign shares.
The practical hurdles are real. Brokers and market makers would need to staff trading desks and risk systems for longer. Stock Connect, the link that lets mainland Chinese investors buy Hong Kong shares, made up 23% of Hong Kong turnover in the first half of 2025, so any change would need to work with mainland arrangements. HKEX itself has said that changes to the cash market were at a very early, exploratory stage, and that longer derivatives hours come first.
The bull case
Longer, uninterrupted hours could lift trading volumes and fee income for HKEX and make Hong Kong more attractive to global funds that dislike the midday gap. Overlapping more with other markets may help the city keep business in dual-listed stocks rather than lose it to US venues trading around the clock. Removing the lunch break could also reduce price jumps that build up while the market is shut.
The bear case
More trading hours do not necessarily mean more trading; volume may simply be spread more thinly, raising costs for brokers without lifting revenue. Staff, systems and clearing processes that currently use the lunch break would need reworking. Coordination with mainland Stock Connect could slow or dilute the plan, and HKEX has given no timetable, so the change may be years away or smaller than reported.
Why it matters
For investors
Exchange operators such as HKEX, Nasdaq and Cboe are the most direct winners or losers as competition for trading hours heats up. Brokers in Hong Kong may face higher operating costs if the session is extended.
The wider context
For ordinary investors, the trend toward near round-the-clock trading means more chances to react to news but also more exposure to thinly traded sessions in which prices can swing more sharply.
Market impact
| Asset (ticker) | Possible move | Timeframe | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388.HK) | ↔ Unclear | Long term | Longer hours could lift volumes, but timing and take-up remain uncertain. |
| Nasdaq Inc. (NDAQ) | ↔ Unclear | Long term | Its 23-hour plan from December is pushing rivals to extend hours too. |
| Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) | ↔ Unclear | Long term | Also preparing near 24-hour weekday trading as the hours race intensifies. |
The FinPrism newsroom's view of how these figures could move, as of . It is general news commentary, not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold anything.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Hong Kong stock market close for lunch?
Yes. Hong Kong's continuous stock trading currently runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a one-hour break in between. HKEX is discussing scrapping that break and opening 30 minutes earlier, though no decision or timetable has been announced.
Why does Hong Kong want longer trading hours?
Competition is rising. Nasdaq plans to start trading 23 hours a day on December 6, and Cboe and NYSE Arca are preparing similar schedules. Longer hours could help Hong Kong keep investors, especially in companies whose shares also trade in the US.
When will Hong Kong change its trading hours?
There is no date yet. Hong Kong's market regulator has said HKEX will publish a consultation paper on longer hours, and the exchange has said derivatives trading hours would be addressed before any change to stock trading sessions.
Sources: Financial Times, The Standard, Finance Magnates
How this was made: written with AI assistance from the sources listed above, following our editorial standards.
