LAUNCH OF USE AUTOMATED TRADING SYSTEM HELD ON 1st SEPTEMBER

2015

THE AUTOMATED TRADING SYSTEM

Floor trading is where stockbrokers meet at a specific venue (referred to as a
trading floor) to buy and sell financial instruments using open outcry method to
communicate which each other. Open outcry is the name of a method of
communication between professionals on a stock exchange. It involves shouting to
transfer information primarily about buy and sell orders. In an open outcry auction,
bids and offers must be made out in the open market giving all participants a
chance to compete for the order with the best price. New bids or offers would be
made if better than previous pricing for efficient price discovery. The open outcry
system is being replaced by electronic trading systems.
Electronic trading systems are faster, cheaper, more efficient for users, and less
prone to manipulation by broker/dealers.
What is automated trading?
The automated trading system is a computer-based trading applications set up to
automatically buy and sell securities on an exchange.
Why commence electronic trading?
Automation also enhances both liquidity and flexibility with regard to the time it
takes to conclude a deal. The current settlement period is 5 working days.
However with automation, and the elimination of inefficiencies brought about by
the paperwork involved, the transaction period will be shortened to T + 3, which is
more in line with international standards.
How do investors participate in automated trading?
Every broker member of the Uganda Securities Exchange shall have access to the
automated trading facility. As an investor, you access the automated trading
service through your brokers automated trading service. You will still have to fund
your account before placing orders with your broker.
Once you've funded your account for automated trading, your orders shall be
routed to the automated trading facility through the broker and executed
according to the terms you have selected.
Can investors place their orders online directly?
Investors will still initially place their orders through their brokers. In the near
future, investors will have the opportunity to have online trading through their
Plot 31 Princess Anne Drive. Bugolobi
P.O Box 6828. Kampala, Uganda | +256 776 131 391 | ugoffice@aggreyclifford.com

brokers trading system. If you discover over time that you don't like a particular
service, you can unsubscribe and move on to another one.
How do investors track their investments with the new system?
Clients can track how their investments are executed by requesting statements
from their broker. If clients are unhappy with the brokers performance, one can
change brokers while maintaining their account.
Automated trading systems appeal to investors who understand how the market
works and want to have more control over their trading. There's risk involved with
automated trading just as there is risk involved in manual trading.
What should investor know about failure of the system that is being used
for placing orders?
Every online trading client should understand that there could be a possibility of
failure of system which could include failure at various points including network
failure, connectivity failure etc. Generally, the trading members have alternate
ways of servicing the investors in the eventuality of such failures. In order to
mitigate risks arising from such failures, investor before starting trading should
understand from the trading member about ways and means of dealing with such
failures, steps that investor needs to take for knowing his position, closing the
position etc.
About the USE:
The Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) was licensed to operate as an approved
Stock Exchange in June 1997 by the Capital Markets Authority of Uganda and
began formal trading operations in January 1998. The Exchange is governed by a
Governing Council whose membership includes licensed broker/ dealer firms,
investment advisors, a representative of investors and a representative of
issuers. Trading on the exchange is facilitated by 8 licensed broker firms and 4
custodians. There are 16 listed companies, with a total market capitalization of
around Ushs 27 trillion (US$ 9 billion). CEO for USE is Mr. Paul Bwiso.
The Exchange is a central place for trading of listed securities by licensed
brokers/dealers. It provides a credible platform for raising of capital; through
the issuance of appropriate debt, equity and other instruments to the investing
public in a regulated environment. In this way, the Exchange provides essential
facilities for the private sector and government to raise money for business
expansion and enables the public to own shares in companies listed on the
Exchange.
Website: www.use.or.ug
For more information please contact us on the below given email addresses:
ugoffice@aggreyclifford.com or terence.chambati@agrreyclifford.com
or wanjiru.munene@aggreyclifford.com

Plot 31 Princess Anne Drive. Bugolobi

P.O Box 6828. Kampala, Uganda | +256 776 131 391 | ugoffice@aggreyclifford.com