Aug 28, 2012
Chi-X eyes Korea for new venue launch
Market operator
Chi-X Global is tracking regulatory progress in Korea with the aim of
establishing a new alternative trading system (ATS) in partnership with local
brokers.
In July last
year, Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) proposed a change to the country's Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act that would allow
alternative trading systems to challenge the monopoly of the Korea Exchange (KRX).
The change was
part of a series of financial reforms that were set for adoption this year and
also included deregulation of local investment banks.
But recent
National Assembly elections in Korea, as well as an expected change at the top
of the FSC, mean potential ATS operators are waiting for clarity before moving
ahead.
“There
is still some uncertainty on if the law will pass, but Chi-X will work closely
with brokers in Korea to assess the demand for competition,” Tal Cohen, CEO of
Chi-X Global, told theTRADEnews.com. “If there is, we see Korea as an
interesting market where we think we can lower the cost of trading, reduce friction
and increase the attractiveness for offshore capital.”
Compared to Japan and Australia, where the firm launched independent venues in July 2010 and November 2011 respectively, Chi-X Global will have to take a different approach in
Korea when setting up an ATS.
As presently drafted, the new Korean rules will not allow any
party to own more than 15% of an ATS. Cohen said this would require any Chi-X
venture in Korea to be a collaborative effort with local brokers. Local markets
sources have also claimed that a group of large brokers in Korea are already planning
to team up and establish their own ATS for Korean stocks.
The introduction of alternative trading systems in
different regions around the globe puts pressure on domestic exchanges to
improve service and lower trading fees. The arrival of Chi-X Australia, which garnered
a 2.5% share of overall trading last month according to data from Thomson
Reuters, led the Australian Securities Exchange to slash its execution costs
and make a series of technological improvements to its trading system.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange overhauled its technology at
the start of 2010, partly in response to competition from new venues, and has
recently received approval to merge with the derivatives-focused Osaka
Securities Exchange. Chi-X Japan grabbed 1.36% of trading in Japanese shares in
July.
But while KRX is planning an upgrade of its trading
system at some point this year, Cohen suggested the introduction of
competition in Korea has “less to do with the KRX and more to do with the fact
that it's a robust market that justifies greater choice”. Korea was the third-largest market in Asia last month, behind Japan and China, according to Thomson
Reuters data.
Anish Puaar
+44 (0)20 7397 3817
anish.puaar@thetrade.ltd.uk