OCBC Securities sees 60% trade spike from young investors

OCBC Securities’ saw a 60% spike in trades by investors aged 30 years old and younger as of 30 September 2026.

Active young investors in OCBC Securities rose over 20% year-on-year (YoY) over the same period, outpacing growth across the bank’s wider investor base, according to OCBC.

OCBC expects momentum to continue due to the SGX’s upcoming reduction of board lot size from 100 units to 10 units for instruments priced above S$10, and from 100 units to 1 unit for instruments priced above S$100. The reduction kicks off on 5 October 2026.

“Younger investors have historically traded in smaller amounts and are overwhelmingly digital, making the upcoming changes to the board lot size particularly relevant to them,” said Wilson He, managing director, OCBC Securities.

OCBC Securities said ti will permanently remove minimum commissions for all online trades on SGX beginning 5 October.

More than 95% of OCBC Securities’ young investor base trade exclusively only, the bank said.

“Our permanent removal of minimum commission on SGX online trades gives them even more flexibility to trade in smaller amounts,” He said.

He also expects the removal of minimum commissions and smaller board lot sizes to benefit other segments. Clients should find it easier to sell odd lots, accumulated through scrip dividend schemes where dividends are paid in shares rather than cash, according to He.