HONG KONG, Aug. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Liquidnet, the global institutional marketplace, today announced that it now has more than 100 members providing liquidity in Asia-Pacific equities. The milestone was reached with the addition of Australian institutional fund manager Challenger Financial Services Group Ltd and Axa Rosenberg Investment Management (Japan) Ltd, who became the 100th and 101st member respectively. The achievement occurred less than nine months since the firm began trading in Asia in November 2007.
Liquidnet’s global membership of 535 firms collectively account for an estimated $16.4 trillion in equity assets under management, or an average of $30.6 billion per member (as of 31/07/08).
“The demand from Asia Pacific investors for a venue to anonymously trade large blocks of stock is very strong,” said David Klinger, managing director of Liquidnet Asia. “Throughout the region, we have helped our members trade more efficiently than they could through traditional methods, resulting in enhanced quality of trade execution and lower overall trading costs.”
Andrew Fraser, Head of Trading at Challenger Financial Services Group Ltd. said, “In our first days trading, Liquidnet has demonstrated it can deliver access to real institutional block liquidity in a unique and efficient manner. We are excited that we are now members of the Liquidnet community.”
Liquidnet commenced onshore trading of Japanese equities in June. Hei Seki, Head of Trading at AXA Rosenberg Investment Management Ltd. in Tokyo said, “We are looking forward to finding many block trading opportunities to help achieve superior results for our fundholders.”
Liquidnet transaction sizes in Asia-Pacific equities for July 2008 averaged US$1.55 million compared to US$10,784 (A$12,388) on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX July Activity Report, 05/08/08), and US$17,365 (HK$135,447) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx Monthly Market Highlights - July 2008).
Liquidnet started its Asian operations on November 29, 2007, trading Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and Japan equities. Australia commenced on 20 February 2008.
About Liquidnet
Liquidnet is an electronic marketplace that facilitates institutional equities trading for asset management firms worldwide. By giving buy-side traders a first look at a global natural liquidity pool of more than 7.98 billion shares per day of liquidity on average, Liquidnet consolidates and delivers the institutional equities market directly to the desktops of 535 buy-side trading firms. Institutional investors use the Liquidnet marketplace to enhance the quality and speed of trade execution, gain price improvement for their trades, and, ultimately, lower overall trading costs. Launched in 2001, Liquidnet now trades in 30 equity markets across five continents. Liquidnet is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Toronto, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney. Additional company information is available online at www.liquidnet.com.
(C) 2008 Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Liquidnet, Inc. is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Liquidnet Europe Limited is regulated by the U.K. Financial Services Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Liquidnet Canada Inc. is a member of IIROC/CIPF. Liquidnet Asia Limited is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission as a licensed dealer and a provider of automated trading services pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance and is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Recognized Market Operator. Liquidnet Japan Inc. is regulated by the Financial Services Agency of Japan and is a member of JSDA/JIPF. Liquidnet Australia Pty Ltd. is a licensed corporation under the Corporations Act of Australia, AFSL number 312525.
