HONG KONG -- Enhancements to the trading calendars for Shanghai Stock Connect and Shenzhen Stock Connect, which will take effect on April 24, will bring more trading opportunities to investors, Hong Kong financial institutions said on Friday.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) recently approved adjustments to the trading calendar for both Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Connect, allowing Stock Connect trading on all the days which are trading days in both markets but on which Stock Connect trading is now closed because clearing services are unavailable.

The SFC said in a press release that the adjustments address the misalignment between Stock Connect holidays. The SFC will work closely with the CSRC and other Chinese mainland counterparts to further develop and enhance Stock Connect as well as other mutual market access schemes.

The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) said the enhancements will add up to over 10 trading days to Northbound and Southbound Connect each year and will enable Northbound trading under Stock Connect on all trading days that are mutual to the Hong Kong and mainland markets. Similar adjustments will also be made to the Southbound arrangements of Stock Connect.

Wilfred Yiu, HKEX's co-chief operating officer and head of equities, said that the launch of these Stock Connect trading calendar enhancements will provide more trading opportunities to international and mainland investors, and the HKEX looks forward to working with all stakeholders and regulators in delivering these enhancements.

According to the CSRC's website, after the implementation of the enhancements, the first new trading days of Hong Kong Stock Connect will be April 27 and April 28, and the first new trading days of Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Connect will be May 25.