RCBC Securities ties up with Japanese broker

MANILA, Philippines - Local brokerage firm RCBC Securities Inc. has partnered with a Japanese trading participant to improve access to investors.

In a statement, RCBC Securities said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Okasan Securities Co. Ltd., the flagship company of the Okasan Securities Group Inc. in Japan.

“This tie-up aims to cater to the growing interest in Philippine equities among Japanese institutional investors,” said RCBC Securities, the stock brokerage arm of listed Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

The partnership aims to “provide Japanese investors access to Philippine stock investment opportunities,” RCBC securities added.

RCBC Securities is one of the highest capitalized stockbrokerage firms in the Philippines with shareholders’ equity of more than P500 million.

Okasan Securities, for its part, is beefing up its Asian brokerage business. It tied up with partner-brokers from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea over the years.

Markets in emerging Asia, which includes the Philippines, are enjoying fund inflows from investors seeking higher yields in these fast-growth economies.

Since ending 2012 at 5,812.73, the Philippine Stock Exchange index has risen by 15.3 percent to 6,701.95 as of last Friday.