Moscow Exchange expands trading session: from September 14, markets will operate one hour longer
The Moscow Exchange has decided to significantly expand its trading schedule: starting September 14, 2026, the main trading session will begin at 9:00 AM instead of the usual 10:00 AM. Thus, the duration of continuous trading will increase by one hour and reach ten hours. This significant change will affect all key market segments — equities, derivatives, foreign exchange, as well as the precious metals market.
New regulations: details and nuances
According to the updated schedule, the calculation and publication of the platform's main indices will also start at 9:00. For participants, this means expanded opportunities: currently they can execute transactions for 17 hours a day and 103 hours a week, and with the new schedule this figure will become even more impressive.
It is important to note that the morning additional session on the equities and derivatives markets will retain its previous framework — from 6:50 to 9:00, with the opening auction taking place in the first ten minutes. The main session will occupy the period from 9:00 to 19:00. For securities not admitted to morning trading, the opening auction will take place from 9:00 to 9:10. The evening session will remain unchanged — from 19:00 to 23:50. The weekend schedule also remains unchanged: transactions will be executed from 9:50 to 19:00, with the opening auction in the first ten minutes.
On the foreign exchange market and the precious metals market, the main session will begin at 8:50 and end at 19:00, with the opening auction running until 9:00. The money market will operate on a separate schedule: unsecured lending modes will be available from 10:00 to 19:00, and the evening session — from 19:00 to 23:50. The most noticeable shift will affect directed repo transactions, deposits, and loans — their start will be moved from 9:30 to 8:30, that is, one hour earlier than the current time.
The logic behind the decision: a focus on institutional investors and regions
The expansion of the schedule is not a technical whim, but a direct response to investor demand. Extending the main session will allow participants to diversify their trading strategies and gain additional liquidity, primarily through institutional players, for whom it is important to implement their strategies during the main trading session, where the bulk of orders is concentrated. In addition, clients from Siberia and the Far East will gain an extra hour for trading at a convenient time for them.
The focus on institutional investors looks logical: large asset managers typically work during the main session, and the extra hour gives them more room to execute large orders. At the same time, retail participation in the Russian market remains extremely active: in July, private investors directed 142.9 billion rubles into securities, and their share of equity transactions reached 63.3%. This indicates that the platform is simultaneously strengthening its position in both the retail and institutional segments.
In parallel, the exchange continues to develop its infrastructure and product lineup. Recently, it entrusted the verification of software code to neural networks, building a chain of AI agents to search for vulnerabilities. The set of instruments for betting on foreign assets is also expanding: since July 27, the platform has been calculating fixings for 23 foreign securities, including Coinbase and Tesla shares, and plans to issue futures and options linked to them.
My view: increasing the trading session by one hour is a correct and timely step that enhances the platform's competitiveness amid the global battle for liquidity. However, the key success factor will be not so much the time as the depth of the market and the quality of order execution. If the exchange can ensure stable liquidity in the early hours, this will attract new participants and strengthen Moscow's position as a regional financial hub.