Special Saturday Trading Session: NSE, BSE to conduct special trading activity on May 18

Special Saturday Trading Session: Stock exchanges BSE and NSE on Tuesday announced special trading activity in the equity and equity derivative segments to check their preparedness to handle major disruption or failure at the primary site. 

Both bourses held similar special trading sessions on Saturday, March 2.

Here are 10 things to know about this special trading activity on Saturday, May 18: 

• When will the special trading activity be conducted? The special trading activity will be conducted by the bourse in two sessions on Saturday, May 18.  
• What is the purpose of conducting the special sessions? The trading sessions on Saturday will involve an intraday switchover from the primary site (PR) to the disaster recovery (DR) site, according to the exchange.
• How will the Saturday sessions be different from a regular day on Dalal Street? According to the bourses, trading will be carried out in two sessions on May 18. Normally, trading begins on weekdays at 9:15 am and ends at 3:30 pm. 
• What will be the timings of the Saturday trading sessions? Trading will take place in two parts. The first session will begin at 9:15 am and conclude at 10 am, which will be followed by another session which will commence at 11:30 am and conclude at 12:30 pm. 
• What will be the difference between the two sessions? Trading in the first session will be carried out from the primary site and in the second session from the disaster recovery site, according to the exchanges. 

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• During the May 18 session all securities, including those available in the derivative segment, will have a maximum price band of five per cent, and "no flexing of securities or futures contracts" will be applicable on that day, both exchanges said in separate circulars. 
• Securities already in the two per cent or lower price bands will continue to be available in their respective bands.
• "The price band for equity segment and futures contracts which will be applicable at the start of the day at the PR site, shall be applicable at the DR site too. Accordingly, the same shall be the reference price range for the pre-open session in the equity segment at the DR site," both exchanges said. 
• Any changes in the price bands of options contracts due to market factors up to the close time at the PR site would be carried forward to the DR site, it added. 
• Typically, switching to the disaster recovery site is done to ensure business continuity in the case of a major disruption in trading activity. 

Here's the full schedule of Saturday trading sessions on May 18

Capital market segment

Futures and options (F&O) segment

Source: NSE circular

"Members are requested to note that this is being conducted based on specific discussions with SEBI and their Technical Advisory Committee with a view to assess the preparedness of MIIs to handle any unforeseen event impacting their operations and to restore operations from DR Site within the stipulated Recovery Time Objective in such event," BSE and NSE said separately.