Interactive Brokers has expanded its access to South Korean equities by adding trading through Nextrade, the country’s first Alternative Trading System (ATS), giving eligible clients longer trading hours, additional liquidity, and more opportunities to trade one of Asia’s largest stock markets.
Interactive Brokers’ is the first major U.S.-based investing app to offer direct access to South Korean stocks through the Korea Exchange (KRX). Clients can now trade eligible securities on both KRX and Nextrade through a single stock trading platform, with IBKR’s SmartRouting technology automatically directing orders to the venue offering the best available price.
The move is designed to improve execution while giving investors greater flexibility when trading Korean equities.
“Korea is home to some of the world’s most innovative companies, and its equity market has become increasingly central to global investment strategies,” said David Friedland, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Interactive Brokers. “By adding Nextrade alongside the Korea Exchange, we’re giving clients greater flexibility and more ways to capture opportunities in one of Asia’s most compelling markets, while further demonstrating our commitment to providing broad, cost-efficient market access worldwide.”
South Korea is home to many globally recognized companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor. Its equity market ranks among the world’s largest by market capitalization and offers exposure to leading industries including semiconductors, technology, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and consumer products.
Through Nextrade, US stock investors can trade approximately 650 securities listed on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets during an extended 12-hour trading day. Trading runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time, including pre-market, regular, and after-market sessions, allowing investors to react to overnight news and global market developments outside traditional exchange hours.
Interactive Brokers’ SmartRouting technology continuously scans both KRX and Nextrade, automatically routing orders to whichever venue offers the best available price. Combined with direct currency conversion, transparent institutional-style pricing, API connectivity for algorithmic traders, and integrated portfolio management, the new offering aims to make investing in Korean equities more accessible for global investors.
Interactive Brokers also gives day traders access to more than 1,800 securities on the Korea Exchange, as well as Korean equity and index derivatives, allowing investors to hedge positions and manage Korean exposure alongside stocks, options, futures, bonds, currencies, and funds across more than 170 markets worldwide.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
