Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/02
By: Tien Yu-pin and Frances Huang

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) A plan that makes expensive stocks and other securities more accessible to retail investors will be launched on Jan. 16, according to the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE).

Under the plan, which was recently approved by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), Taiwan’s financial regulator, retail investors will be able to invest fixed amounts at regular intervals in stocks and exchange traded funds.

The small investment program was designed in response to complaints from retail investors who said they could not afford such expensive stocks as smartphone camera lens supplier Largan Precision Co. (大立光), which closed at NT$3,790.00 (US$118) on Friday.

Shares in Taiwan are usually sold in minimum blocks of 1,000 shares, meaning investors would have to spend at least NT$3.79 million to buy Largan stock, an amount often out of their reach.  [FULL  STORY]