11/2/2009 - Seoul/South Korea
Leading Investment & Securities launches FX Trading with Advanced Markets

LEADING INVESMENT & SECURITIES LAUNCHES MARGIN FX TRADING
Fully Transparent FX Direct Market Access Offered to Clients


Seoul/South Korea — 2 November 2009Leading Investment & Securities, a Korean securities broker, announces the launch of margin foreign exchange (FX) trading service through an online trading FX Direct Market Access (DMA) platform. Leading is the first of Korea’s securities-only brokerage firms to receive regulatory authorization to offer domestic and international derivatives trading services, including margin FX, to clients.

The firm will offer margin FX alongside its existing securities trading services. The margin FX trading service is scheduled to launch in early November following a pre-launch period in which demonstration platforms will be provided to interested clients.

Leading’s FX margin trading service will be offered in strategic partnership with Advanced Markets, LLC, a designated US Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) and Forex Dealer Member (FDM), which offers Direct Market Access (DMA) to live, competitive quotes streamed by more than 10 leading FX bank market makers. Leading’s 24-hour operation desk, which currently supports the firm’s overseas equities trading operations, will support the margin FX trading service.

“We have examined a wide range of FX margin platforms and market structures and believe the FX Direct Market Access model will provide fully transparent, high speed trading access to our clients, enabling them to have the best possible access to the foreign exchange markets,” said Cheul Park, Chief Executive Officer, Leading. “In making our selection, we considered Advanced Markets’ full agency model, in which the firm takes no market risk, as well as the role of Macquarie Bank, as depository of client funds and its involvement with Advanced Markets.”

In addition to providing a highly innovative DMA trading model, Leading and Advanced Markets have entered into an innovative tripartite depository credit structure to provide the highest level of fund protection to clients, In this structure, Leading client funds will be deposited at Macquarie Bank in a custody account under its name, not in an FDM account.

“Advanced Markets warmly welcomes Leading Securities as a valuable strategic partner,” said Anthony Brocco, Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Markets. “We commend their selection of a comprehensive DMA model, which will enable Leading clients to trade directly on highly competitive prices streamed by more than 10 of the world’s leading FX banks. Like Leading, we believe DMA is the most transparent, fully disclosed and fairest market structure available to FX traders.”


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About Leading Investment & Securities
Leading Investment & Securities is a pioneer in Korean securities. Leading, a brokerage firm, was established in March 2000 to meet the evolution of capital market globalization. Since May 2002, Leading has been providing brokerage services for equities of the China, HK, US, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and London markets in Korea, and is continuously expanding to other markets.
Leading focuses on online solutions in place of high cost branch offices to deliver exceptional value to its customers. Through Leading’s Global Trading System, Home Trading System and Online Fund Mall, customers will find overseas equities, Korean equities and derivatives very accessible anytime, anywhere. www.leading.co.kr

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