Speaking to The Financial Express after a board meeting of the exchange, Joseph Massey, managing director, ISE, said, since the meeting was preponed, the exchange had not been able to finalise the cost structure for holding such a session. However, the exchange was keen to go ahead with evening trade on lines similar to OTC's, and a decision on this would probably be taken by March.

Mr Massey said the decision could not be formalised on Friday also owing to the absence of some of the directors at the board meeting.

Analysts said the move to defer the decision could be linked to the fact that the authorities may be wanting to assess the impact of the OTC sessions before deciding on one for ISE.