Shinhan Investment Becomes Exclusive Provider of TradeStation in Korea

Traders in one of the world’s largest domestically traded futures and options market will benefit from accessibility to a leading multi-asset Trading Platform . Shinhan Investment Corp., a leading Korean regulated brokerage firm reported that it has officially licensed TradeStation. The two firms signed an agreement in November that is marking the way for a new wave of advanced technological solutions for Korean traders.

Korean stock indices are heavily traded by domestic and international investors, and for the first time traders will benefit from sound technology offered through the TradeStation terminal. The trading platform will be available exclusively to Shinhan Investment’s clients, the broker has exclusive rights to promote the platform in the country.

In order to cater to the specific needs of Korean traders, the platform will offer local products and is available in the Korean language. Shinhan Investment’s will offer the latest 9.5 version of the platform, the introduction of TradeStation marks a new era of automation for Korean investors who have the ability to create, back-test and implement automated trading strategies using the terminal.

"We believe that our award-winning trading platform technology, now in its 9.5 version, will offer to Korean investors and traders high-value functions and features not previously available to them," said Salomon Sredni, CEO of TradeStation Group in a statement.

Shinhan Investment Corp., is part of a leading conglomerate which offers banking and financial services solutions to global clients.

"We are very excited to be able to offer TradeStation to the Korean market. There is clearly nothing else like it in Korea, and we believe that serious, active and professional online investors and traders in our markets will appreciate the power, leverage and benefits using TradeStation will bring them,” explained Dae Suk Kang, CEO of Shinhan Investment Corp., in the official press briefing.

Among the world’s most frequently traded contract lies the KOSPI 200 Index Option, according to data from Korea Exchange (KRX), over 25% of investors are private individuals, thus highlighting the sheer might of individuals in the Korean trading landscape.

Foreign investors have been attracted to the Korean market due to its liquid nature, data from the exchange shows that its overseas participants make up nearly 40% of all trading volumes in the main futures, options and cash equities contacts. Overseas traders have very little scrutiny when transacting in the Asia-Pacific country, the market is open with limited red tape. Investors need to simply register with the Financial Supervisory Services (FSS) and obtain an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) through a designated standing proxy e.g. any domestic brokerage firm.

Margin FX

Korean investors face regulatory hurdles when exploring margin FX instruments. The regulators introduced restrictions for firms in 2011 with leverage reductions.

Due to the global nature of FX and the high level of internet literacy in Korea, several brokerage firms and financial news portals have services in the Korean langauge, for example, Investing.com a news and technical information site has a Korean section.

A Google search for Korea shows that brokers such as; AVA Trade, HOT Forex and XM have dedicated Korean language pages.

Although FX has a limited place in Korea, domestic investors' trading behaviour shows similarities to those of traditional FX and CFD traders. The two most liquid instruments include the stock index futures and options contract. Due to the high amount of Liquidity in the contract, the contact trades round the clock through partnerships with Eurex and the CME.