Bangkok, 25 February 2019 ? The SEC is seeking public comments on the proposed rules for intermediaries to provide assisting tools to asset allocation and investment planning. This would allow investors to use more tool-specific services and have more investment alternatives to meet their demands.

Given wider varieties of investment advisory services and larger pools of investment product information, it is difficult for investors to analyze and make comparison efficiently. Besides, brokers are increasingly leaning toward investment advisory services, especially those related to asset allocation, and the use of technologies to increase service choices and efficiency in meeting investors? demands.

The SEC is therefore proposing draft rules on providing assisting tools for efficient investment planning whereby securities brokers and derivatives agents would be allowed to offer services on asset allocation and investment planning in the forms of program trading and portfolio advisory with execution.

The draft rules would grant a waiver of private fund license and derivatives fund manager license for both services above which would be considered incidental to brokerage. However, the intermediaries must make a prior agreement with the clients the asset allocation or the investment planning services and parameters set in advance which are based on house view. In addition, the intermediaries must make sure that the clients would open a separate trading account from a traditional one and prepare service agreements and comply with the existing rules on work systems and professional duties.

In light of this facilitator rules, the SEC is also proposing that the Capital Market Product Trading Services with Limited Discretion According to Clients? Pre-determined Investment Scope rules be repealed and such service be considered as a part of the portfolio advisory with execution or standing order, as the case may be.

The consultation paper is available at www.sec.or.th/hearing. Stakeholders and interested parties are welcome to submit comments through the website, or facsimile at 0-2033-9660 or email: nattasasi@sec.or.th or chanisarab@sec.or.th. The public hearing ends on 13 March 2019.

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Remark: Hearing documents (Thai language only) are available at  https://capital.sec.or.th/webapp/phs/upload/phs1549957067hearing_09_2562.pdf