Russian financial market to start short working week without trading on stock market, forex market without morning session

MOSCOW. March 8 (Interfax) - The Russian financial market will begin the short working week on Wednesday in the same mode as it did last week, i.e. without trading on the stock market and without the morning session on the forex market.

The Russian Central Bank said on Tuesday it would not resume trading on the Moscow Exchange's stock market on March 9, except for the Repurchase: Direct Bids mode with payments in rubles.

Trading will also remain closed in the derivatives section, with the exception of monetary section derivatives (currency pairs), in the commodities section (precious metals), and back-to-back contracts for futures on original platforms in standard mode from 10:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Moscow time. No trading will be conducted in the standardized derivative contracts.

Trading on the forex, money, and repo markets on the Moscow Exchange will open at 10:00 a.m.

On the forex and money markets, the ban on short sales of instruments in euros imposed on March 4 shall be lifted, the Moscow Exchange said.

On the derivatives market, the expiration dates of futures and options contracts shall be deferred on days when trading in the underlying assets of such contracts is not held on the Moscow Exchange.

The Russian Central Bank will announce the Moscow Exchange's operating regime for March 10 by 9:00 a.m. Moscow time on Thursday.