KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 1): e-Trade, a stock market trading feature within Touch 'n Go eWallet, is now officially launched, enabling investors to participate in the stock market via TNG eWallet.

TNG Digital Sdn Bhd’s e-Trade, powered by Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd (Affin Hwang IB), is looking to enhance stock market participation by offering seamless convenience and accessibility through the platform. Retail investors can directly access a broad spectrum of products offered by Bursa Malaysia, including stocks and exchange traded funds.

Affin Hwang IB chief executive officer Nurjesmi Mohd Nashir is optimistic that e-Trade will receive encouraging response from the market, with the aim of garnering 100,000 new users within a year.  

“We believe that together with the added services that we are giving, like financial literacy materials and all the comforts of online account opening, perhaps it will be attractive enough to incentivise new investors to seriously consider the platform,” he told a press conference after the launching ceremony.

He also believes the trading platform will further solidify Affin Hwang IB’s brokerage firm position — 10.5% market share in terms of traded value.

The launching ceremony was also witnessed by TNG Digital CEO Alan Ni and Bursa Malaysia CEO Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift.

Ni said: “Serving over 21 million verified users, Touch 'n Go eWallet is the daily go-to platform for many Malaysians. With this new feature, we not only offer a user-friendly interface but also stringent security measures, providing a convenient and secure investment experience.”

Meanwhile, Umar said the use of advanced technology not only broadens access to the capital market for all Malaysians but also removes traditional barriers to investment.

“Our continuous effort as a multi-asset exchange is that every Malaysian has the opportunity to actively participate in and benefit from the opportunities that the marketplace offers,” he added.

e-Trade allows investors to manage their share investment portfolios while conducting other financial transactions within the TNG eWallet ecosystem. The features accessible through e-Trade include online account opening, equity market trading education tailored for beginners, real-time market insights and proactive customer support.

To encourage user adoption, e-Trade is offering incentives such as a waived Central Depository System account opening fee and a reduced brokerage fee of RM3 for equity market trading transactions. Users will also enjoy access to real-time data and quotes.

In addition, Affin Hwang IB will consolidate brokerage fees at the end of each trading day, benefiting investors who execute multiple trades on the same counters and on the same side within a single day, without imposing any platform fee.

These measures are intended to lower the entry barriers for new investors, thus enhancing the affordability of entering the investment market.