Online trading & how investors can benefit

Mobile trading refers to the use of wireless technologies in securities trading. It allows investors to access trading platforms, from mobile phones rather than being confined to traditional trading methods.

T HIS technology provides easier access for both smartphone and basic phone users to actively manage their portfolios on the go. In response to the increasing demands of the modern investor, Escrow Systems a sister company of the Financial Securities Exchange (FINSEC) developed an innovation which automates the interface of the retail and institutional investors to offer them direct access to the market with enhanced efficiency and convenience.

FINSEC aims for an increased participation of different classes of investors, especially individuals, through the integration of common place tools such as SMS, USSD and mobile money services. As such it has adopted the C-TRADE technology. FINSEC therefore gives an opportunity to people in marginalised and peripheral areas to trade in the securities markets.

For many years securities exchanges were physical locations where stockbrokers met and negotiated on behalf of buyers and sellers. Trading typically happened on the floor of an exchange. With the improvement in communications technology, the need for a physical location is becoming less important and traders have started to transact from remote locations over the web or on wide area networks. The C-TRADE technology now enables investors trading via FINSEC to trade on the go.

This accessibility makes mobile trading alluring for those who may not have had the finances or the connections to visit a broker frequently in the past. Mobile traders can buy and sell without speaking to a stockbroker. This doesn’t mean trading is done with no stockbroker input, as stockbrokers facilitate the trade when investors click the button.

For a regular trader on FINSEC, a buy or sell is all about getting the timing right. In these volatile times, an opportunity an investor spots on the FINSEC market needs to be acted upon as a matter of urgency. Mobile traders can now trade wherever and whenever they want. In conventional trading, an investor may have to work with a delay depending on when they are able to contact their stockbroker and when the stockbroker is able to place an order.

Mobile trading allows nearly instantaneous transactions. Also, investors are able to review all of their options instead of depending on a stockbroker.

Mobile trading offers an interface and the ability for investors to see how their money is performing on the FINSEC platform throughout the day. Investors log in through their phone and can see any gains or losses in real time. The C-TRADE suite offers more tools for traders of all levels.

Another avenue for trading on FINSEC is the online trading which is also enabled by C-TRADE. FINSEC harnesses and facilitates electronic trading of a wide variety of securities, thereby formalising marginalised market segments and bringing all alternative trading activities onto a central and organised market place.

Investors throughout the world can trade on FINSEC by trading online. They post their orders which are routed to their nominated brokers who then posts on their behalf on the FINSEC ATS.

The Financial Securities Exchange (FINSEC) is a Zimbabwe registered securities exchange and a member of the Escrow Group. The Escrow Group has interests in the financial services and technology sectors. Corpserve Registrars and Escrow Systems are the other members of the group.

For more information contact: — 2nd Floor ZB Centre, Cnr Kwame Nkrumah and 1st Street - Harare, Zimbabwe - Tel: +263 4 758193 Email: info@finsec .co.zw - www. finsec.co.zw - Twitter: @FINSECZim