A trailblazer in online trading - from creating the original night-time trading platform to providing the first 100-currency-denominated World Bank Notes - Monex Group is now paving the way for seamless global, multimarket trading. "In much the same way as online trading has enabled even the smallest retail investor to take charge of his portfolio, Monex envisions further empowering investors to directly trade across multiple stock markets around the globe," says Oki Matsumoto, chairman and CEO. The group is the only broker with a strong retail client based in Japan (Monex), the United States (TradeStation) and Hong Kong (Monex Boom Securities). Monex Boom in Hong Kong enables clients to trade across 12 countries in Asia-Pacific and the US in 15 stock exchanges. Monex Boom allows as many as six types of currencies in one stock trading account and automatically converts investors' money into the settlement currency after trade - eliminating the need for prior conversion. "Once completed, our enhanced in-house developed global infrastructure will equip retail investors to transcend even more geographic borders through a single platform," Matsumoto says. Monex pursues its aspiration as a global technology-based retail financial service provider through mergers and acquisitions. It also invests in joint ventures in key markets such as the mainland and Asia-Pacific. This year, Monex has partnered with South Korea's second-largest broker, Shinhan Financial Group, which will use TradeStation's technology to boost its services. Monex is open to similar exchanges of values and local know-how with partners maintaining wide retail client bases. It welcomes brokers, banks and other institutions such as telecommunications companies, which aim to integrate online trading in their offerings. "We bring to every relationship our expertise in the world's most broadly developed capital markets and specialised technologies cultivated throughout the years," Matsumoto says. "We aim to unite these advantages with the strengths of potential partners also seeking to provide their clients value-added service." Monex Group www.monex.co.jp
