BNP Paribas has launched an integrated broker-custodian solution designed to help investors and asset managers access the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (Stock Connect) initiative. Stock Connect is a mutual market access scheme giving Hong Kong and mainland China investors access to each other's stock markets via their own brokers. The scheme is expected to go live in October.

To help clients in Hong Kong to invest in Mainland China as part of the Stock Connect programme (known as Northbound trading), BNP Paribas' custody business (BNP Paribas Securities Services) and brokerage business (BNP Paribas Securities Asia) have joined efforts in launching an integrated solution which allows clients to make their investments in a seamless manner.

Lawrence Au, head of BNP Paribas Securities Services Asia Pacific, commented: "Stock Connect is a ground breaking initiative, which will bring great investment opportunities to investors and asset managers. It also comes with a number of operational challenges as two exchanges with different trading rules and technology come together."

"To help asset managers make the most of Stock Connect, we have teamed up with our brokerage colleagues in BNP Paribas Securities (Asia) to offer our clients seamless access to Stock Connect via an integrated broker-custodian solution. This solution will cover the entire trade lifecycle from pre-trade checks and execution to clearing and settlement. Our clients will be able to focus on their investment decisions while we take care of all the executional and operational issues."