National Irish Bank’s parent, the Dankse Bank Group, has joined the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) as a member, to provide Dankse Bank Group and National Irish Bank customers with trading opportunities in Irish equities.
Following its acquisition by Danske Bank, National Irish Bank has recently launched a revised product offering, which includes new personal and business banking packages. The bank will now offer internet banking customers the ability to trade stocks and shares online.
The membership is intended to enhance cross-border trading opportunities for Danske clients as well as reinforcing Danske’s commitment to its Irish operation, National Irish Bank, which it acquired in March 2005. Business and personal banking customers will now be able to manage their own investment portfolio and trade stocks and shares on their respective national exchanges, as well as a number of major exchanges globally.
The move brings to 26 the number of trading member firms on the ISE, and Brian Healy, director of trading and regulation of the ISE welcomed the move, saying, ‘Trading in Irish equities on the ISE continues to grow strongly with values traded on the ISE in Q1 2006 exceeding €33 billion, 24 per cent ahead of the same period last year. The nature of Danske’s market offering and the order flow it will bring, including via National Irish Bank, will contribute further to volume and liquidity growth to the overall benefit of the market’.
Last year the ISE welcomed a record number of new members, as companies listed on the exchange continue to post strong growth.
Seven participants joined the ISE as members in 2005. Four of the new members act as general clearing members - BNP Paribas Securities Services SA, Kas Bank N.V., Man Financial Limited and Pershing Securities Limited, while two firms joined as equity trading members, Neonet Securities AB and BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC. |
