The Tokyo Commodity Exchange, Inc. announced today that the regulatory approval was granted to update exchange trading hours and contract specifications. The changes, designed to offer increased trading opportunities, will start in July 2014.
Firstly, trading hours will be updated from July 22nd. The day session will close at 15:15 JST (previously 15:30) and the night session will start at 16:30 JST (previously 17:00), adding 15 minutes overall. Likewise order acceptance will start at 16:15 (previously 16:45). The overnight opening corresponds with active European trading and the adjustments should be of particular benefit to these market participants.
Secondly, TOCOM will adjust the First Trading Day for a New Contract Month. From July 25, 2014, the First Trading Day of a New Contract Month will start from the night session immediately following the Last Trading Day of the current contract month (at present, trading begins with the day session on the first business day following the Last Trading Day of the current contract month).The trade schedule is exceptional for the Crude Oil contract in December. The Last Trading Day for the December contract falls on the last business day of the year, when the night session is not held. Therefore the First Trading Day for a New Contrtact Month will start from the day session on the first business day of the New Year.
[ Changes to Trading Hours ]
| Present | From July 22, 2014 | |
|---|---|---|
| Day Session | 9:00 - 15:30 JST | 9:00 - 15:15 JST |
| Break Between Sessions | 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Night Session | 17:00 - 4:00 JST (Rubber closes at 19:00) |
16:30 - 4:00 JST (Rubber closes at 19:00) |
[ First Contracts to be Generated under New Schedule ]
| Market Divisions | Listed Products | Contract Months | First Trading Day for a New Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber Market | Rubber | January 2015 | Friday, July 25, 2014 |
| Oil Market | Gasoline, Kerosene, Gas Oil | February 2015 | Friday, July 25, 2014 |
| Crude Oil | January 2015 | Thursday, July 31, 2014 | |
| Chukyo-Oil Market | Gasoline, Kerosene | February 2015 | Friday, July 25, 2014 |
| Precious Metals Market | Gold (Standard & Mini), Silver, Platinum (Standard & Mini), Palladium | August 2015 | Tuesday, August 26, 2014 |
| Agricultural Product & Sugar Market | Azuki | January 2015 | Monday, July 28, 2014 |
| Raw Sugar | September 2015 | Thursday, July 31, 2014 | |
| Soybean | August 2015 | Friday, August 15, 2014 | |
| Corn | September 2015 | Friday, August 15, 2014 |
Note: The new rule will not apply to Gold Options trading.
