BURSA MALAYSIA, SGX AND SET TO JOIN ASEAN EXCHANGE LINKAGE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia, Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX)
and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) are set to join the Asean Exchange
Linkage which will go live by the second half of 2011.

Secretary-general of Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission,
Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, said the Philippines Stock Exchange was expected to
follow in the first half of 2012.

"The Asean Exchange Linkage will not only provide ease of access but will also
increase market utility substantially both from trade outside and intra-Asean,"
he said at the luncheon address in conjunction with the Asean Finance Ministers'
Investor Seminar here Tuesday.

Thirachai said in addition to the Asean Exchange Linkage, the exchanges would
also promote leading Asean public companies under the brand of "Asean Star".

He said cross-border offering of collective investment scheme by mutual
recognition would start in the first half of 2012 for non-retail investors.

"Later it will extend to the retail public, first for plain products by the end
of 2012 and then for complex products by 2013.

"However, the offer would still have to be made through local intermediaries to
ensure enforceability of investor protection," he said.
-- BERNAMA