If you’re a Malaysian retail investor trading on Bursa Malaysia, knowing the exact market hours and trading phases is essential for planning your orders and managing your portfolio. This guide breaks down the complete trading schedule so you can trade with confidence.
Bursa Malaysia Equities Market Timing
The Bursa Malaysia stock market runs on a two-session structure, with clearly defined phases in each session. Both the normal market and odd-lot market follow the same schedule below.
| EQUITIES MARKET TIMING | ||
| Trading Phases | Time | Market Type |
| 1st Session | Pre-Opening: 8:30 am | Normal Market and Odd Lot Market |
| Opening and Continuous Trading: 9:00 am | ||
| Closing: 12:30 pm | ||
| Session Break | ||
| 2nd Session | Pre-Opening: 2:00 pm | Normal Market and Odd Lot Market |
| Opening and Continuous Trading: 2:30 pm | ||
| Pre-Closing: 4:45 pm | ||
| Closing: 4:50 pm | ||
| Trading at Last: 4:50 pm – 5:00 pm | ||
Session 1: Morning Trading (8:30 am – 12:30 pm)
Pre-Opening Phase (8:30 am): The market opens for order entry during this phase. You can place buy and sell orders, but no trades execute yet. This gives you time to adjust your strategy before continuous trading begins.
Opening and Continuous Trading (9:00 am): Orders begin to match and trades execute. This is when the market is actively trading. You can enter new orders, modify, or cancel existing ones throughout this phase.
Closing (12:30 pm): The first session ends. Any unfilled orders typically carry over to the next session (depending on their order type).
Session Break (12:30 pm – 2:00 pm)
After Session 1 closes at 12:30 pm, the market takes a break for 1.5 hours. No trading occurs during this window. Use this time to review your positions, check market news, or plan your afternoon strategy.
Session 2: Afternoon Trading (2:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Pre-Opening Phase (2:00 pm): Similar to Session 1, the market opens for order entry. You can place new orders before continuous trading resumes at 2:30 pm.
Opening and Continuous Trading (2:30 pm): The afternoon session begins active trading. Trades continue to execute from 2:30 pm onwards until the pre-closing phase.
Pre-Closing Phase (4:45 pm): Continuous trading stops. You can still enter, change or cancel orders, but nothing is matched until the closing auction at 4:50 pm, when orders are matched at a single closing price. This is your last chance to adjust your orders before the close.
Closing (4:50 pm): The main trading window closes. No new continuous trades are executed after this time.
Trading at Last (4:50 pm – 5:00 pm): A final 10-minute window allows last-minute trades to settle at the closing price. This is a brief extended trading period for urgent order matching.
Remisier tip: If you’re planning to enter or exit a position late in the day, aim for the pre-closing phase (4:45 pm onwards) to ensure your order has the best chance of matching. Avoid leaving orders unattended during the 4:50–5:00 pm window if you’re not monitoring your screen actively.
Normal Market vs. Odd-Lot Market
Both the normal market and odd-lot market operate on the same schedule shown in the table above. The only difference is in trade size: normal market trades are for standard lot sizes, while odd-lot trades are for shares below the standard lot. For trading hours purposes, they follow identical timing.
See also: Bursa tick size (minimum bid) tables · Bursa price limits: limit up and limit down
Key Takeaways
- Bursa Malaysia runs two trading sessions: morning (9:00 am–12:30 pm) and afternoon (2:30 pm–5:00 pm).
- Pre-opening phases (8:30 am and 2:00 pm) allow you to enter orders before continuous trading begins.
- A 1.5-hour break separates the two sessions, from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm.
- The market has a special closing window from 4:50 pm to 5:00 pm called “Trading at Last” for final order matching.
- Both normal market and odd-lot market follow the same trading schedule.
- Plan your trading strategy around pre-opening phases for better order placement flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Bursa Malaysia open?
Bursa Malaysia opens for pre-opening order entry at 8:30 am for Session 1, with continuous trading beginning at 9:00 am. Session 2 pre-opening starts at 2:00 pm, with continuous trading from 2:30 pm.
What is the session break on Bursa Malaysia?
The session break runs from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm, lasting 1.5 hours between Session 1 and Session 2. No trading occurs during this window.
Can I trade after 4:50 pm on Bursa Malaysia?
Yes, there is a “Trading at Last” window from 4:50 pm to 5:00 pm where final trades can be matched at the closing price. However, this is only a 10-minute window, and continuous trading ends at 4:50 pm.
What is pre-opening on Bursa Malaysia?
Pre-opening is a phase before each trading session where you can enter, modify, or cancel orders, but trades do not execute. Pre-opening occurs at 8:30 am (before Session 1) and 2:00 pm (before Session 2).
Do odd-lot shares trade on a different schedule?
No, odd-lot shares trade on the exact same schedule as normal market shares. Both follow the identical pre-opening, opening, and closing times shown in the official schedule.
More M+ Global guides
Open your M+ Global account with Dexter Chia
Sign up in the M+ Global app with Invitation Code UBZQ to get AI automated tools, AI stock analysis and AI alerts — and a remisier you can actually reach.
WhatsApp: +60169059789 | Why choose Dexter?
Source: based on the official M+ Global Help Centre (Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd). Fees, hours and procedures are set by Malacca Securities and the exchanges and may change — check the M+ Global app or ask your remisier for the latest.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and is not financial advice.
