Part of the Swiss stock exchange currently operates as SWX Europe in London and manages the trading of 32 blue chip stocks. These stocks will be repatriated to Zurich to take advantage of one set of rules and regulations and simplify trading. The move will consequently allow Swiss stocks to be subject to internal Swiss regulation and monitoring from mid-2009.

In order to continue to satisfy the demands of its trading participants in London, the SIX Swiss Exchange will open up a representative office in London to handle local administrative and technical participant support.

According to the SWX, this transfer will not affect the trading systems and no participant-side changes or adjustments are necessary. The ongoing project aimed at modernising the entire trading system will proceed according to plan, it announced.

"With this strategic reorientation, SIX Swiss Exchange is on one hand taking into account the changed competitive environment and, on the other, streamlining its operations and lowering costs substantially, thereby enhancing its competitiveness, reinforcing its role as an international securities exchange, and strengthening the Swiss financial centre," the exchange stated.