Helsinki Exchanges: Evening Trading Shortens By Half An Hour From 1 April, 2003

Evening trading at Helsinki Exchanges will be shortened by half an hour on 1 April, 2003, from which date evening trading will end at 7.30 pm. Otherwise trading hours will remain unchanged.

The change in evening trading hours is HEX's response to changing demand in a challenging market situation. During the autumn, HEX discussed the trading hours with brokers and investors.

"The market participants' views varied broadly. The feedback from members and investors indicates that an hour and a half evening trading is closest to market expectations", says Executive Vice President Jouni Torasvirta.

Approximately 80 per cent of evening trading is conducted within the first hour.