Singapore Exchange and Bursa Malaysia to link stock exchanges in end July 2012

Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Bursa Malaysia (Bursa) are expected to link their stock exchanges around end of July or early August this year as the finishing touches are yet to be put in place to connect the region's bourses under the Asean Trading Link (ATL).  Originally, it was planned to be ready by end-June, but full system testing are expected to be completed by end July.

The ATL plans to connect seven bourses across six countries in the region, involving some 3,600 public-listed firms with a combined market capitalisation of US$2 trillion.

The ATL would eventually include the bourses of Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines in an effort to raise the profile of Asean as a highly-investable asset class.

Bursa Malaysia, Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) would be the first to establish the link as the combined market capitalization of their listed companies accounts for 70 per cent of Asean's total valuation.

Asean comprises of 10 countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN Exchanges consist of seven members, the countries are SGX (Singapore), Bursa (Malaysia), SET (Thailand), the Jakarta Stock Exchange (Indonesia), the Philippine Stock Exchange (Philippines), the Hochiminh Stock Exchange and the Hanoi Stock Exchange (Vietnam). 

The idea to allow seamless trading among Southeast Asia's bourses came up about four years ago as ASEAN sought to attract portfolio investors drawn to the larger Asian markets of China and India.

Speaking on behalf of ASEAN Exchanges, SGX Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Magnus Bocker said the start of the Singapore-Malaysia electronic trading link will mark the first key milestone  towards breaking down the barriers to cross-border trade in Southeast Asia.

'Through the trading link, investors in Asean will enjoy a new ease of access to a wider investment selection as well as tap the region's growth opportunities,' he added in the statement, at the conclusion of the 16th Asean Exchanges CEOs meeting here.