PRESSR: Extended trading hours and amended closing auction mechanism to increase the Kuwaiti capital market’s appeal to investors

About this update from Boursa Kuwait Securities Company (k.p.s.c)

AlOsaimi: “The continuous efforts of the capital market apparatus have directly influenced the confidence of foreign and institutional investors and increased their participation in the Kuwaiti capital market.”Kuwait City: As part of its ongoing efforts to develop the investment environment and enhance the attractiveness of the Kuwaiti capital market, Boursa Kuwait extended its continuous trading session by 30 minutes starting Sunday, October 12, 2025, with the session now running from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Accordingly, the closing auction session will now run from 1:00 p.m. to 1:10 p.m., while the trade at last session, which will now run from 1:10 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., will end trading for the day.Extending trading hours enhances efficiency by granting investors more time to respond to market developments and execute their orders, thereby increasing trading volumes, deepening the market, and contributing to greater price transparency and stability.It also strengthens liquidity by aligning the Kuwaiti capital market’s trading hours with those of global peers, broadening the investor base, reinforcing its appeal, and supporting its regional and international competitiveness.Closing auction amendments to boost institutional investor participationAdditionally, the closing auction mechanism was amended following the Capital Markets Authority’s (CMA) approval of the relevant updates to the Boursa Kuwait Rulebook. This will help align the Kuwaiti capital market with emerging markets in the region.Under the new framework, investors can amend buy and sell orders throughout the ten-minute auction, while the random closing period has been reduced to the last 30 seconds instead of the last two minutes. The amendment also provides investors greater flexibility and freedom in executing trades, enhancing the efficiency of the auction process and increasing the market’s overall appeal.Close collaboration within the capital market apparatusThe decision to extend trading hours and modify the closing auction mechanism followed a series of extensive technical tests conducted among the capital market entities, including Boursa Kuwait, Kuwait Clearing Company, and brokerage firms. These tests were carried out to ensure that the market’s infrastructure was ready to handle the extension without impacting execution speed or efficiency.“Led by the Capital Markets Authority, and wi...

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