For Immediate Release 						November 13, 2000


TAIB SECURITIES LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE 
FOR DIRECT ACCESS ONLINE TRADING TO THE US MARKETS


TAIB Securities WLL, a leading brokerage house in Bahrain, launched today, for the first time in Bahrain, direct online access to all major US Stock Exchanges for its Gulf-based clients. This new online service is the first of a suite of three types of brokerage services being offered by TAIB under the taibdirect.com banner. 

The service was inaugurated by  Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director of the Bahrain Stock Exchange at a ceremony in the presence of dignitaries and bank officials.

The direct access online trading service is the first of its kind in the Middle East. It links investor-users through the internet to an advanced trading system that allows them direct access to all major US Stock Exchanges. The Gulf-based investor can now trade in US equities in real-time, from his office or home, without a broker’s intervention. Moreover, this system enables trading even after the closing bell, and into the after-hours market, a facility that was previously available only to institutional investors. 

The online trading solutions nowadays are significantly affecting the equity market business, by providing investors around the world with information and accessibility to the worldwide markets in a timely fashion. TAIB’s initiative in introducing direct access online trading to offer investors accessibility to US markets is a step towards building our capabilities within the region said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, The Director of the Bahrain Stock Exchange.

In his statement, Mr Iqbal G. Mamdani, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TAIB Bank said, Today, investors from the Gulf are extremely discerning and selective and deserve and demand  the best and the fastest methods of service, and we are excited about being able to offer them the capability to trade on-line in the real sense, and obtain instantaneous live responses.

TAIB Securities will continue to provide broker-assisted trading, giving investors the option to place their orders on the phone with an expert, multi-lingual staff. Such orders will be executed by the broker, on behalf of the client through the same state-of-the-art trading system. This facility will help investors who are travelling or are on the move, as well as those who are not familiar with the internet.



Mr. Mamdani further added, All of our US brokerage clients will have immediate and up-to-date account information on all days of the week at  www.taibdirect.com. In addition, they will be able to receive daily market reports on the US markets, via e-mail and at no extra charge. Access to information on innumerable mutual funds will also be available, further reinforcing TAIB’s capability in providing superior service”.



TAIB Securities WLL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TAIB Bank E.C., based in Bahrain. TAIB Securities WLL, Bahrain, is one of three brokerage houses within the TAIB Group; the others being TAIBYatirim AS in Istanbul, and TAIB Securities India Ltd in Mumbai. 



For more information, please contact the Head of Online Brokerage for TAIB Securities WLL: Farid Samji (Tel: 973 535523, Fax: 973 531213)
E-mail:   fsamji@taib.com