General
What are securities?
Securities refer to a stock of a company measured in number of shares. The terms, "Stocks", "Equities", "Shares" and "Securities" often refer to the same thing.
Individuals may invest in Securities and check the progress of their investment every day in the newspapers or on the internet.
It is possible to enjoy a higher rate of return from investing in securities than from savings accounts. Stock market securities in thriving economic climates will generally show an increase over time, and sometimes within a very short period. However, all stock markets are volatile and buying securities should not be seen as a short-term method of making money.
Buying securities also costs money. Stockbrokers make various charges for their services, such as commission.
Other than investing in securities by yourself, you can assign asset management professionals or companies to invest on your behalf.
Note that securities investments are not bank deposits and are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The price and value of any investment in securities and the income, if any, from them, can fluctuate and may fall against your interest.
Who can apply for HSBC's Securities Trading Services?
- HSBC Premier and Personal Banking customers aged 21 years old and above
- Dealing restrictions apply as follows:
| Country/region |
Citizen |
Resident |
|---|---|---|
| United States |
Not Allowed |
Not Allowed |
| Canada |
Allowed only Canadian Citizens residing outside of Canada |
Not Allowed |
| South Korea |
Not Allowed |
Not Allowed |
| Country/region |
United States |
|---|---|
| Citizen |
Not Allowed |
| Resident |
Not Allowed |
| Country/region |
Canada |
| Citizen |
Allowed only Canadian Citizens residing outside of Canada |
| Resident |
Not Allowed |
| Country/region |
South Korea |
| Citizen |
Not Allowed |
| Resident |
Not Allowed |
How can I start trading?
- If you do not have an existing Securities Trading Account, please refer here on how to apply for an online securities trading account.
- If you have an existing Securities Trading Account, you may login to HSBC Online Banking and make a trade from the convenience of your home.
- If you do not have access to HSBC Online Banking, please refer to the HSBC Online banking FAQ on how to get started.
How do I apply for an Online Securities Trading account?
- Premier – Please visit the branch or contact your RM to open an (068) Securities Trading Account.
- Personal Banking – Please visit the branch to open an (068) Securities Trading Account.
Alternatively, leave us your details in the contact form and we'll be in touch.
Do I need to fund my account before I can trade?
- Yes. Please fund your HSBC Singapore deposit account before placing any orders. Please take note that insufficient funds will result in unsuccessful order placements for purchase of securities.
- Customers will be required to hold funds in the same currency as trade currency.
- If you do not have a foreign currency account, you may open an Everyday Global Account that gives you access to up to 11 currencies to make a foreign currency exchange.
How many markets are offered?
Currently 3 markets are offered:
- Singapore market (Singapore Exchange),
- Hong Kong market (Hong Kong Exchange) and
- US market (NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ)
What are the trading hours and settlement timelines?
| Markets |
Exchanges |
Website |
Trading Hours (in Singapore Time) |
Settlement Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore |
Singapore Exchange (SGX) |
www.sgx.com |
Mondays – Fridays 08:30am – 08:59am 9.00am – 5.00pm 05:00pm – 05:05pm |
T + 2 Market days, where T is trade date |
| Hong Kong |
Hong Kong Exchange (HKEx) |
www.hkex.com.hk |
Mondays – Fridays 9.00am – 9.30pm 9.30am – 12.00pm 12.00pm – 1.00pm 1.00pm – 4.00pm |
T + 2 Market days, where T is trade date |
| United States |
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American Stock Exchange (AMEX) NASDAQ |
Mondays – Fridays (Daylight Savings) (Non-Daylight Savings) |
T + 2 Market days, where T is trade date |
| Markets |
Singapore |
|---|---|
| Exchanges |
Singapore Exchange (SGX) |
| Website |
www.sgx.com |
Trading Hours (in Singapore Time) |
Mondays – Fridays 08:30am – 08:59am 9.00am – 5.00pm 05:00pm – 05:05pm |
| Settlement Timeline |
T + 2 Market days, where T is trade date |
| Markets |
Hong Kong |
| Exchanges |
Hong Kong Exchange (HKEx) |
| Website |
www.hkex.com.hk |
Trading Hours (in Singapore Time) |
Mondays – Fridays 9.00am – 9.30pm 9.30am – 12.00pm 12.00pm – 1.00pm 1.00pm – 4.00pm |
| Settlement Timeline |
T + 2 Market days, where T is trade date |
| Markets |
United States |
| Exchanges |
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) American Stock Exchange (AMEX) NASDAQ |
| Website |
|
Trading Hours (in Singapore Time) |
Mondays – Fridays (Daylight Savings) (Non-Daylight Savings) |
| Settlement Timeline |
T + 2 Market days, where T is trade date |
What is the minimum bid size for the exchange market?
Price Range (SGD/USD) |
Minimum Bid Size (SGD/USD) |
|---|---|
| Below 0.20 |
0.0001 |
| 0.20 – 0.995 |
0.005 |
| 1.00 – 1.99 |
0.005 |
| 2.00 – 9.99 |
0.001 |
| 10 and above |
0.01 |
Price Range (SGD/USD) |
Below 0.20 |
|---|---|
Minimum Bid Size (SGD/USD) |
0.0001 |
Price Range (SGD/USD) |
0.20 – 0.995 |
Minimum Bid Size (SGD/USD) |
0.005 |
Price Range (SGD/USD) |
1.00 – 1.99 |
Minimum Bid Size (SGD/USD) |
0.005 |
Price Range (SGD/USD) |
2.00 – 9.99 |
Minimum Bid Size (SGD/USD) |
0.001 |
Price Range (SGD/USD) |
10 and above |
Minimum Bid Size (SGD/USD) |
0.01 |
Share price (HKD) |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 – 0.25 |
0.001 |
| > 0.25 – 0.50 |
0.005 |
| > 0.50 – 10.00 |
0.01 |
| > 10.00 – 20.00 |
0.002 |
| > 20.00 – 100.00 |
0.05 |
| > 100.00 – 200.00 |
0.10 |
| > 200.00 – 500.00 |
0.20 |
| > 500.00 – 1,000.00 |
0.50 |
| > 1,000.00 – 2,000.00 |
1.00 |
| > 2,000.00 – 5,000.00 |
2.00 |
| > 5,000.00 – 9,995.00 |
5.00 |
Share price (HKD) |
0.01 – 0.25 |
|---|---|
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.001 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 0.25 – 0.50 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.005 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 0.50 – 10.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.01 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 10.00 – 20.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.002 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 20.00 – 100.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.05 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 100.00 – 200.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.10 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 200.00 – 500.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.20 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 500.00 – 1,000.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
0.50 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 1,000.00 – 2,000.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
1.00 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 2,000.00 – 5,000.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
2.00 |
Share price (HKD) |
> 5,000.00 – 9,995.00 |
Minimum Bid Size (HKD) |
5.00 |
Share Price (USD) |
Minimum Bid Size (USD) |
|---|---|
| < 1 |
0.0001 |
| ≥ 1 |
0.01 |
Share Price (USD) |
< 1 |
|---|---|
Minimum Bid Size (USD) |
0.0001 |
Share Price (USD) |
≥ 1 |
Minimum Bid Size (USD) |
0.01 |
What are the securities that I can trade?
We offer the following securities quoted in Singapore, Hong Kong and US markets:
- Listed stocks
- Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) – excluding French and Italian ADRs
- Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs)
We do not offer over-the-counter (OTC) securities.
What are the types of orders that I can place?
We accept market orders (for Hong Kong and US markets only) and limit price orders. Orders placed will be valid for the same day until the respective market closes. Market orders can only be placed during exchange trading hours.
Limit Order: An instruction that allows you to specify your highest acceptable purchase price or lowest acceptable selling price. The limit order is valid for the day only.
Market Order: An instruction that allows you to buy/sell securities at the prevailing bid/ask price of the security. Market orders can be placed during trading hours only.
What information do I need to provide to place an order?
The basic information required is the security name, market, order quantity, limit price (for limit orders) and settlement account.
What are the charges for transfer of securities?
| Type |
Charges |
|---|---|
| Inward Transfer of Securities |
Free of charge (Please note that there is a minimum charge of $10.70 for CDP Transfer) |
| Outward Transfer of Securities1 |
0.5% of securities value based on previous business day's closing price, plus prevailing GST. In addition, for Hong Kong securities, stamp duty2 as applicable, plus prevailing GST |
| Type |
Inward Transfer of Securities |
|---|---|
| Charges |
Free of charge (Please note that there is a minimum charge of $10.70 for CDP Transfer) |
| Type |
Outward Transfer of Securities1 |
| Charges |
0.5% of securities value based on previous business day's closing price, plus prevailing GST. In addition, for Hong Kong securities, stamp duty2 as applicable, plus prevailing GST |
Can I sell stocks that I buy on the same day?
Yes, intraday trading is allowed from 25th April 2022 onwards. This means that you can sell the shares you bought even before your buy trades are settled and shares are credited into your account.
Can I amend or cancel an order?
You may amend or cancel an order provided the order has not been fully executed or cancelled. For partially executed orders, you can only amend or cancel the unfilled order.
What kind of amendments can I make to an order?
You can amend the order quantity and price.
Can I place a buy order without sufficient funds in my cash account?
No. There has to be sufficient funds in your cash account before a buy order can be placed.
Can I place a sell order without sufficient share holdings in my Securities Trading Account? Can I short-sell?
No. There has to be sufficient share holdings in your Securities Trading Account before a sell order can be placed.
Can I attend an AGM (Annual General Meeting) or EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting)?
No. HSBC does not support attendance at AGM or EGM.
Can I sell securities converted from Structured Notes/ELNs online?
HSBC Premier
Please contact your RM to setup a Standing Instruction (SI) to move the converted securities from the (090) Bonds, SN and ELN Investment Account to the (068) Securities Trading Account.
HSBC Personal Banking
Structured Notes and ELNs are not available to HSBC Personal Banking customers.
How do I check the execution status of my order?
You may check the execution status of your order online through HSBC Online Banking. If you maintain a valid Singapore mobile phone number in our records, you will also be notified of execution results via SMS by the end of the day.
When will my account be debited for securities purchases, and when will I receive the money from selling securities?
For securities purchase, a hold will be placed on your settlement account for the purchase amount upon order placement (trade date) and the funds will be debited on the settlement date. Your funds will continue to earn interest in your settlement account between trade date and settlement date.
For securities sale, you may place an order to sell your securities only if the securities are credited to your securities account. Similarly, a hold will be placed on the securities on trade date until settlement date, when the sales proceeds will be credited to your settlement account.
Can I trade overseas securities during Singapore Public Holidays?
Trading will be available during Singapore Public Holidays as long as the overseas securities market is open.
Can I trade odd lots?
Odd lots purchase orders will not be accepted. However, odd lots can be sold by the same trading procedure. Odd lot sell orders will have to be placed as a separate order. Separate fees and charges will apply for the separate order.
What happens if my trade was executed at multiple prices?
In the event of an order being filled by multiple price executions, the Bank will follow market practice in calculating the gross consideration as well as cash debit for buy orders and sales proceeds with average price. Please refer to below examples:
Example:
100 shares of ABC at $22.30
40 shares of ABC at $22.41
Average price (for buy / sell orders with multiple price execution)
Rounding method: simple rounding at 4 decimal points($22.30 x 100 shares + $22.41 x 40 shares) / 140 shares
i.e. Total 140 shares at average $22.331428
After rounding, the average price is $22.3314
Gross Consideration (for both buy and sell order)
Calculation logic:
Average price (after rounding) x quantity
Simple rounding at 2 decimal points
Using the above example:
$22.3314 x 140 shares = $3,126.396
After rounding, the consideration is $3,126.40
What is the maximum number of parties to a joint Securities Trading account?
Joint accounts up to 2 parties are allowed with signing mandate as singly.
What are the advices that I can expect to receive?
A Contract Note will be generated for each trade and sent on the next business day after the Trade Date.
Can I open a securities trading account to corporate clients?
No. HSBC's securities trading services is offered to individual clients and sole proprietors only.
Can I use CPF monies to invest in shares/ ETFs?
No. We don't support using CPF monies for share trading.
How are the shares purchased through HSBC held?
HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited (The "Bank") acts as a custodian in respect of the shares purchased. The shares are held on trust by the Bank or its nominee. The clients are the beneficial owners of these shares.
What is the stock code/stock name for a particular stock X?
Please refer to the exchange website for the stock code/stock name for that particular stock X.
Does HSBC offer equity IPOs?
No, HSBC Securities Trading does not offer equity IPOs.
SGX-listed Securities
What is CDP?
CDP is the Central Depository, providing integrated clearing, settlement and depository facilities for customers trading in SGX securities.
Do I need to open a CDP (Central Depository) account before trading SGX-listed securities?
No. You do not need to submit documentation for opening of a CDP account, although in practice a CDP account is opened for each customer in the name of HSBC Nominees. This is transparent to you and for most purposes, you will only need to be aware of your Securities Trading Account number (with suffix 068).
If I buy a stock through another broker and it is custodised in my individual CDP account, can I sell the shares through HSBC?
No. You will need to first transfer the securities from your CDP account to your Securities Trading Account with HSBC.
How do I check if a counter listed in SGX is a Specified Investment Product [SIP]?
Please check the SGX website for more details.
Transfer of Securities
How do I initiate a request to transfer securities from my direct CDP account to my Securities Trading account with HSBC?
Please provide the below forms to your RM (HSBC Premier customer) or nearest branch (HSBC Personal Banking customer):
- Request for Transfer of Securities/Unit Trust Form, and
- Signed original CDP Form 4.2
Are there any charges to transfer securities from my CDP account to HSBC's Securities Trading Account?
No. HSBC does not have any charges. However, there could be charges by external parties e.g. CDP.
How long does it take for securities to be transferred from my 090 account to 068 account? (For ELN Customers with Standing Instruction)
As long as Standing Instruction is set up, shares resulting from ELN maturity will be transferred to 068 account on the same day as ELN maturity date.
Technical/System Queries
I am encountering an error in the order placement screen when I tried to trade online. Can you provide some assistance?
Please provide the error message and also a copy of the screenshot (if available) to your RM for HSBC Premier Customer or contact the Call Centre for HSBC Personal Banking customer.
If below message is shown, customers now have the option to update their documents online. Simply access "Document Centre" via the "Wealth Dashboard" in HBSC Online Banking.
"Please proceed to the branch or contact your RM to complete the customer account review / customer knowledge assessment / risk warning statement. (Ref:ORM031)."
I sold off my shares online, how do I know if the trade has been executed? If executed, when will the funds be credited to my account?
- You will receive an SMS once the trade is executed. A contract note will be generated and sent to you on the next business day.
- Funds will be credited to your account on T+2 business days for Singapore, Hong Kong and US shares.
Corporate Actions Queries
How are dividends and bonus shares issued?
Cash dividends will be paid to your linked cash settlement account. Scrip dividends and bonus shares will be paid to your Securities Trading Account.
How will stock splits and share consolidation be handled?
Please note that certain corporate action events which may result in adjustments to your shareholdings are not updated on a real-time basis, as HSBC is reliant on its custodians to provide such updates on a timely basis. As such, your new shareholdings (post-the relevant corporate event) may not be updated or reflected in time before the start of trading after such corporate event. If you choose to sell any shares which result from these corporate action events, you are solely responsible for computing your entitlement correctly and any trades being executed in connection with such. Please trade with caution and be mindful that sudden sharp unexplained changes in share prices overnight may be due to corporate action events which affect your shareholdings. Always refer to the official websites of the respective Exchange for the most up-to-date information on corporate action events.