Published on: 2026-09-28
Source: Moscow Exchange –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Moscow Exchange summed up the results of the first two weeks after extending the main trading session time. Since September 14 On the stock, futures, currency market, and precious metals market, it begins at 9:00. Previously, the 9:00–10:00 interval was considered an additional morning session on these markets, and trading in the precious metals market did not take place at this time until September 14. The change allowed synchronizing the start of trading on all platform markets and aligning the official start of trading with the business activity rhythm of the financial sector.
The Moscow Exchange notes that the morning hour from 9:00 to 10:00 is more actively used by all categories of clients. Primarily by corporate clients: banks, brokers, mutual fund and pension fund managers, and financial companies.
Key results for non-retail categories
In the stock and investment fund units market, in the bond market, and in the derivatives market, the average turnover of HFT/ALGO during the 9:00–10:00 period increased by 29.8%, from 365.94 billion rubles to 474.82 billion rubles.
The average turnover of legal entities increased by 20.0%, from 17.26 billion rubles to 20.72 billion rubles, while the average number of transactions by legal entities grew by 52.9%, from 25.3 thousand to 38.6 thousand.
For banks’ and brokers’ proprietary operations, the average number of trades increased by 16.1%, from 408 thousand to 474 thousand, while the average turnover decreased by 2.9%. This indicates an increase in the intensity of proprietary trading operations in the morning hour, with the average deal size/volume in this category reduced.
Stock market
In the stock market, the number of active legal entities increased by 80% to 207, their turnover grew 2.2 times to 1.2 billion rubles, and the number of transactions rose by 85.8% to 9.8 thousand. Thus, in the category of legal entities, the breadth of participation, turnover, and trading intensity all expanded simultaneously.
At the same time, the number of legal entities concluding transactions with mutual fund shares increased by 2.8 times, and the turnover grew by 2.7 times to 0.4 billion rubles.
In the corporate and subfederal bond market, the number of corporate clients increased by 17.9%, turnover by 105.5%, and the number of transactions by 50.5%. For participants’ proprietary trading operations, turnover grew by 125.7%, while the number of transactions increased by 55.5%.
During this period, 17.4% more legal entities concluded transactions with OFZ, and the number of their transactions increased 2.7 times compared to August 31 – September 11.
Spot Market
The number of corporate clients in the futures market increased by 17.9%, the turnover on their transactions rose by 19.9%, and the number of deals increased by 30.0%. For proprietary transactions, the number of trading participants increased by 26.7%, and the number of deals rose by 15.3%.
Precious Metals Market
In the precious metals market, the trading volume during the morning session in system mode over the past two weeks amounted to 74.9 billion rubles, which accounted for 30.4% of the total trading volume, of which 3.4 billion rubles were spot transactions (the share of total spot transactions is 4.2%).
Boris Blokhin, Senior Managing Director for Sales and Business Development at the Moscow Exchange:
“Initial data show increased activity in the additional hour of the main trading session across all client segments, including an increase in the number and volume of transactions by legal entities and professional participants. Looking ahead, expanding the presence of professional participants in the first hour of the main session will enhance liquidity, the quality of pricing, and the execution of transactions for all market participants.”
The Moscow Exchange is consistently extending trading hours in response to requests from investors – currently, trading on the Moscow Exchange is available for 17 hours a day and 103 hours a week. Extending the main trading session is the next step in this direction. Investors can diversify their trading strategies, and the market has gained additional liquidity, including from institutional investors. Additionally, clients from Siberia and the Far East now have an extra hour for trading at a time that is convenient for them.
The Moscow Exchange Group operates the only multifunctional exchange platform in Russia for trading stocks, bonds, derivatives, currency, money market instruments, and commodities. The Group includes a central depository and a clearing center that acts as a central counterparty in the markets, enabling the Moscow Exchange to provide clients with a full range of trading and post-trading services.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.