Bahrain Bourse (BHB) started, as of Sunday, the implementation of the resolution to extend the trading session to three-and-a-half hours.

Trading now starts at 9.30am and ends at 1pm, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"The extension of the trading period comes along with the implementation of the online trading incentive programme (OTIP)," BHB deputy chief executive and chief operating officer Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said.

"This will give new categories of investors a better opportunity to trade both in Bahrain and abroad.

"It will also give investors at BHB a longer time to benefit from the opportunities available in cross-listed companies, whether they are listed at BHB or other bourses, and GCC capital markets that are linked with BHB through cross-listing agreements.

"The extended trading hours will give investors and portfolio managers in the West and European countries a longer time to trade in the securities listed at BHB, especially that the extension will solve part of the time difference between Bahrain and other countries," he added.-TradeArabia News Service