ParisBourse SBF SA Extends Trading Hours

Beginning on Monday April 3, ParisBourse SBF SA trading hours will be extended by half an hour. Trading will end with a closing call auction at 5:35 p.m.. This implements the agreement reached by eight European exchanges in September to harmonize trading hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On September 20, 1999, ParisBourseSBF SA took an initial step in this direction, moving the beginning of trading up from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. From April 3, all continuously traded stocks on the Premier Marché, Second Marché and Nouveau Marché with be traded from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by a closing call auction at 5.35 p.m. Times for call auctions on Le Nouveau Marché will also change. The first will be held at 9:30 a.m. instead of 10:30 a.m., and the second at 5:00 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m. As a result, dissemination of closing prices for all Paris Bourse indices will begin at 5:35 p.m. as of April 3. Trading in equity options will close at 5:35 p.m. instead of 5:05 p.m. and trading in index options at 5:30 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m. In the case of Euro Notional, Euro 5-year, Euro 2-year and Euro 30-year futures and related options, the so-called day session will be extended to 5:30 p.m. The day session for the Euribor future and related option will be extended to 5:10 p.m. Closing times may be set later in coming months if market needs make this appropriate.