Online trading platform launched

MANILA, Philippines - DA Market Securities Inc. has become the latest brokerage firm to go online using the trading platform of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

The launch of iTrade jumpstarts DA Market’s goal of attracting young professionals, particularly from the Central Luzon province of Pampanga, to invest in the local stock market, bourse and company, officials said.

“We hope that with this online system, we are able to reach more people to come into the market and help address the imbalance of small value coming from retail investors,” said PSE president and CEO Hans Sicat.

The PSE is at the forefront of efforts to engage with investors, Sicat said, adding that regional markets find a hard time to broaden their reach.

“To make it worth our while, we have to capture about 10 percent of population in Pampanga...we are eyeing 20,000 unique accounts in that area,” said DA Market Securities president Nestor Aguila.

Aguila said DA Market will conduct roadshows to promote iTrade and educate investors regarding the stock market.

Since 2011, DA Market has been providing free market research to around 2,000 investors, which can be encouraged to open iTrade accounts, said Nisha Alicer, research strategist at DA Market.

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