OCBC Securities Scraps Minimum Commission on Online SGX Trades

SINGAPORE – OCBC Securities has permanently removed the minimum commission on all online trades on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), effective 5 October 2026, as the brokerage reports a sharp rise in trading among younger investors.

The announcement comes as SGX begins rolling out smaller board lot sizes. From 5 October, the board lot for instruments priced above S$10 shrinks from 100 units to 10 units, while for instruments priced above S$100 it falls from 100 units to a single unit.

Young investors driving growth

OCBC Securities said trades by investors aged 30 and below climbed 60% as of 30 September 2026. The number of active young investors on the platform grew by more than 20% year-on-year, ahead of the pace across its wider customer base.

The brokerage expects that momentum to continue. Wilson He, managing director of OCBC Securities, said younger investors tend to trade in smaller amounts and are “overwhelmingly digital”, which makes the board lot changes especially relevant to them. More than 95% of its young investor base trades exclusively online, the bank said.

Why the fee change matters

With smaller lot sizes, investors can buy in far smaller amounts, but a fixed minimum fee per trade can eat into the returns on small orders. Removing that floor, Mr He said, gives investors more room to trade in smaller sizes.

He also expects the changes to benefit other customer groups. Clients should find it easier to sell odd lots, such as those built up through scrip dividend schemes, where dividends are paid in shares instead of cash.

Source: Singapore Business Review – OCBC Securities sees 60% trade spike among young investors. Also reported by World Business Outlook.

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