The online offshore stock trading has been growing faster than expected. With only two months in service, there are 108 investors registered for an online trading account, Phillip Securities (Thailand) managing director Suchai Suthasthamkul has told reporters.

“We initially expected only 100 accounts. We now look to handle over 300 accounts in the next year,” said Mr. Suchai.

Phillips Securities is the country’s first brokerage firm that has established links with the leading stock markets globally to allow local investors trading shares online in 6 different stock exchange markets in the United State, Hong Kong, Singapore, England, Japan, and Malaysia.

The company said its customers currently prefer to invest in the stocks based in the United States more than in other countries.

“Almost 90 percent of the local investors prefer the U.S markets, because there are three stock markets including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the NASDAQ Stock Market, and the American Stock Exchange that are well-known amongst investors globally” Mr. Suchai commented.

“The global financial crisis has also forced investors to diversify their portfolio into the different markets around the world by investing in the best-known companies’ shares that offer a satisfactory rate of return yet at the acceptable risk,” he added.