During the past week Shaukat Aziz, Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs opened a new chapter in the Information Technology and the Capital Market by inaugurating the first on-line trading service. The akdtrade.com is a fast and informative electronic trading site through which investors can buy and sell stock at the Karachi Stock Exchange, through the Internet. AKD Trade is designed to change the way investors think about stock trading.

Speaking at the occasion, Shaukat Aziz termed this a major step in facilitating investment activity in the country. "With the streamlining of the financial sector and deployment of technology, new and more efficient ways of doing business are being introduced that would, in turn, contribute to the economic growth and development. One such advancement is what we are witnessing today — the freedom to trade in stock 24-hours a day through the Internet", he said.

"On-line stock trading has become very popular and most coveted activity worldwide. Compared to real world trading, on-line trading gives an individual the leverage to control and decide on various options. This deployment of modern technology takes one directly to the stock exchange this making trade and investment easier than ever. Availability of liberal market access would significantly contribute to successful realization of wide ranging economic reforms Pakistan is engaged in at the present", Shaukat added.

Earlier, in his presentation the Chief Executive of AKD Trade, Ali Ansari said, "With the launch of AKD Trade, we will be providing all investors with a level service which was only available to a few privileged. We have set ourselves the demanding target of doubling the existing number of active investors in the country".

While demonstrating the working of on-line trading and the unique features of the service, he elaborated, "AKD Trade is all about facilitating the investors. In addition to on-line trading we are rolling out branches that are equipped with the latest computer technology, well trained and experienced sales team and professional trading environment in all the major urban centres of the country".

AKD Trade is a division of Aqeel Karim Dhedhi Securities Limited (AKD Securities), a corporate member of Karachi Stock Exchange. AKD Securities is the innovator in the capital markets. The leading brokerage house has assembled a core team of expert professionals with a high level of integrity, financial acumen and industry experience. It has not only initiated on-line trading but also established venture capital, concluded the first ever securitisation, the largest TFC issue and the biggest merger and acquisition transaction.

AKD Securities has emerged as a leader in equities market as result of the first successful IPO in Pakistan in the year 2000, after a lapse of three years. It acted as the placement agent and underwriter for the WorldCall issue.

AKD Securities also acted as deal broker on the largest private sector acquisition in Pakistan history of Dhan Fibres by Dewan Salman Fibre, a Rs 4.2 billion deal. It also advised and arranged the Rs 1.8 billion TFC issue of Dewan Salman Fibre to finance the acquisition of Dhan Fibres, then the largest issue of its kind by a private sector company in the history of Pakistan.

The success and overwhelming response of public of AKD Trade can be gauged from a fact that within 24 hours of the launching, the hits exceeded 100,000. The other plus points are that AKD is a showcase of Pakistani technology. Virtual Trade Automated Management System (VTAMS) is a web-based automated ordering system that delivers a high degree of control and robust scalable solutions.

THE EVOLUTION OF BROKERAGE INDUSTRY

Full-service brokerage firms offer investors not only stock trading services but also extensive research and investment advice.

Discount brokerage houses are able to cut away most of the frills (which many investors don't want anyway) and offer buy and sell services at a discount.

On-line brokerage entities handle stock trades almost exclusively over the Internet.