OCBC's investor hub opens amid trading pickup

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#1
Wow, I didn't know investing has to be exciting. I think you would be able to make money more consistently if it was boring. Tongue

As usual, the mainstream media uses the words trading and investing interchangeably.

The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on Jan 22, 2013
OCBC's investor hub opens amid trading pickup


By Alvin Foo

TIPS from analysts and other market watchers that this will be a bumper year for equities have prompted investors to pile back into shares.

Local brokerages report a keen pickup in trading from retail investors since the new year as a mood of optimism gathers pace.

OCBC Securities managing director Raymond Chee said yesterday: "Since the beginning of 2013, we have seen daily trading volume for retail customers double the daily average trading volume in 2012."

Dealers attribute this surge to a revival of penny counters. Overall, the Singapore market has averaged 5.4 billion shares done daily this year, a vast increase from the 2.1 billion average seen last year.

Mr Chee mentioned the upswing in activity during the official opening of his firm's $2 million investor hub in Raffles Place.

The 6,600 sq ft facility at 18, Church Street hit the drawing board about two years after research involving 100 retail investors and in-house experiential work. It has been operational since last July.

The research told OCBC Securities that investors wanted a venue where they could share trading ideas, talk to trade specialists, access market information and feel the excitement of investing.

The broker did not expect such enthusiasm for one-on-one contact and "human interaction" in the light of the rapid growth of mobile gadgets and online trading. Mr Chee said: "We have been surprised by our investors wanting brick-and-mortar trading experience in addition to the convenience of a good online trading platform. The brick-and-mortar touchpoint is not dead."

Among the hub's key features is a multimedia trading gallery touted to be the first in the brokerage industry. It has a full range of mobile trading gadgets - from the iPhone and iPad to BlackBerry and Android devices - that customers can use to access OCBC's mobile trading application.

There are also six trading terminals for clients to place orders and a digital media wall showing key global market indexes, the prices of main commodities and popular foreign currency pairs.

Mr Chee said about half of his firm's customer trade in terms of value is done via the Internet. Of these, about 20 per cent is conducted through its mobile trading application.

The hub also has five customer service pods, two private meeting rooms, and a seminar room that can seat up to 80 people. There is also a gallery that allows clients to catch the dealers in action.

Retail investor Cheong Pak Seng, 74, who frequents the hub two to three times a week, found the computer terminals very useful for monitoring stock prices and executing his trades. "It's also in a convenient location, in town, and very near to the MRT," he added.

alfoo@sph.com.sg
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
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#2
I used to think I will go airport to watch aeroplanes when i retire.
Now I have another option......go ocbc gallery to watch dealers Smile
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#3
Sorry but what's the difference between this and back in the 90s?
Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give. –William A. Ward

Think Asset-Business-Structure (ABS)
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#4
(22-01-2013, 10:23 AM)specuvestor Wrote: Sorry but what's the difference between this and back in the 90s?

I was too young to remember the 90's, besides the great music of course. Tongue

But right now it seems this article implies things are getting exuberant.....
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
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#5
lol rarely any retail investors visit that place, they just promoting it to gain traffic
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#6
I think their research might be out of touch. The "retail" folks who go there will be basically be thei retirees. If you are trying to engage the current generation and the family man etc... then I think they are just too busy with their work , family and life then they need platforms that make it easy for them to carry out their trades.

I think their target market is different and thus the research and results of the research are meant for this target market. Probably the retired , the housewives , students who got free time , etc....

Another could be that, their research showed that the only way to get people "excited" aka influence them to trade a lot so that they( the bank) can make money is to built a hub and get them involve in the action and create the herd mentality. The more they can influence them, the more the herd gets together, the more they will be wiling to trade looking at others trading and giving the impression that they are making money.

All these leads to more money for the bank.

The research is not to help the customer ...no no.... the research is on how to influence the customer so that the bank can make more money from them.
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#7
(22-01-2013, 10:34 AM)Musicwhiz Wrote:
(22-01-2013, 10:23 AM)specuvestor Wrote: Sorry but what's the difference between this and back in the 90s?

I was too young to remember the 90's, besides the great music of course. Tongue

But right now it seems this article implies things are getting exuberant.....

You sure its not because they are nostalgic or retro Big Grin

*Kidding*

Brokers are never about your interest. Ask Buffett Smile
Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give. –William A. Ward

Think Asset-Business-Structure (ABS)
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