International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) has brought forward the next stage in its timetable for the transition to electronic trading, in response to the expectation of war in the Middle East.
Trading in IPE's flagship brent crude and gas oil futures contracts was extended last Thursday. The markets opened early at 02.00 GMT, with the trading session running up to the current closing times of the extended hours trading sessions of 09.45 for brent and 09.00 for gas oil.
"In view of the current geopolitical situation, the IPE Board has agreed that the IPE should extend its trading hours at the earliest...