Stock trading made easier for local small investors

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) has rolled out new features that seek to make initial public offering (IPO) and follow-on offering (FOO) subscription more accessible and efficient for investors.

The new features were added to the PSE Electronic Allocation System (PSE EASy) website, a platform that enables local small investors (LSIs) to participate in IPOs and FOOs.

PSE said the platform now has an integrated electronic payment system that enables LSIs to pay for subscribed shares via online banking.

“The ease offered by electronic payment within the platform will hopefully encourage more LSIs to use PSE EASy to buy shares when there are public offerings,” PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon said.

According to the PSE, over-the-counter bank payment remains an option for those who prefer this payment method.

Aside from the e-payment function, PSE EASy also allows modification on the payment method and subscription.

The platform also has a single sign-on authentication that allows users to access other exchange platforms like PSE EQUIP and PSE Academy.

“PSE aims to provide a better experience across its technology platforms. I hope the enhancements introduced in PSE EASy will make IPO and FOO subscription more accessible and efficient for investors,”  Monzon said.

Launched in June 2019, the PSE EASy was seen to replace the manual subscription process for LSIs, which entailed going to physical kiosks in PSE offices and select areas in Metro Manila.

The introduction of PSE EASy has expanded the reach of the LSI program to 44 countries, seven overseas territories and 80 Philippine provinces. Majority of the LSI participation were previously from retail investors based in Metro Manila.

Of the 29 total offerings that have used PSE EASy, three IPOs and two FOOs have recorded full subscription of their LSI tranche.

The PSE said the e-payment method may be used to pay PSE EASy subscriptions for the upcoming first IPO of 2024.