AUSIEX announces trading solution for international equities

AUSIEX has announced a partnership with Saxo Australia that it said would deliver an integrated international trading solution geared specifically to financial advisers.

The company added that the new partnership would allow financial advisers to directly trade and own international equities and exchange traded funds (ETFs) across not only multiple markets, but in multiple currencies as well.

According to AUSIEX chief executive Patrick Salis, the partnership with Saxo Australia comes after an “extensive search”.

“We are delighted to announce we are collaborating with Saxo, a global leader in international trading solutions, to leverage their proven technology and domain expertise and jointly deliver a highly scalable, ‘best of breed’ international trading solution for advisers,” Mr Salis said.

“Our aim is to complement and enhance our capabilities as a proven wholesale trading platform, and ensure it continues to be a leading solution for advisers, brokers and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) by not only enabling advisers to trade international equities alongside domestic securities, but also benefit from integrated news and research, trading tools and reporting capabilities.

“This partnership will help Australian advisers better service investors, strengthen their client propositions, and improve practice efficiencies.”

Saxo Australia CEO Adam Smith said the investment firm was “delighted to support AUSIEX’s expansion into international equities markets”.

“Like AUSIEX, Saxo Australia is an Australian broker backed by a global financial powerhouse, and we anticipate this being the start of a long and fruitful partnership,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s never been more important for investors to diversify their holdings across geographic regions and asset classes. Saxo Australia’s partnership with AUSIEX will enable financial advisers to do just that for their clients, using market-leading, user-friendly investment technology and infrastructure.”

In April, AUSIEX reported that there was a 24.5 per cent increase in fixed interest ETF buy trades in the half year to end December 2022.

“Advisers report continued interest from their clients about opportunities in fixed income this year,” said Brett Grant, head of product, marketing and customer experience at AUSIEX.

“Bonds historically perform better in periods when share markets suffer losses, but the two asset classes declined in tandem last year as central banks pushed interest rates significantly higher to curb inflation. It was the first time since 1928 that both equities and fixed income dropped more than 10 per cent.”

He added that according to AUSIEX data, as at end February 2023, financial advisers accounted for a significantly higher proportion of total holdings value compared with self-directed investors.

“For income-focused advisers and investors, there are plenty of heavily-traded options available via ETFs to gain diversified exposure to a range of both domestic and international asset types to maintain and protect income,” Mr Grant said.