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Hong Kong Investors Pay Over HK$7.3 Billion in Annual Trading Fees, 65% of Investors Underestimate Impact of Trading fees on Returns, The Era of AI Agentic Trading Could Further Amplify Trading Friction

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Hong Kong investors pay an estimated HK$7.34 billion in total trading fees each year for Hong Kong and US stock transactions, averaging HK$2,094 per person annually. According to the 2026 Hong Kong Investor Trading Behavior Study, trading fees have become a major factor affecting investment returns – yet most investors continue to underestimate their long-term impact.

HONG KONG, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly evolves, global financial markets are entering a new era of agentic trading. However, for retail investors to truly benefit from the potential of intelligent trading, trading friction must first be significantly reduced. Webull Securities Limited (“Webull HK”), a subsidiary of Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL), the owner of the Webull trading platform, today released the 2026 Hong Kong Investor Trading Behavior Study, conducted by independent market research firm Ipsos. The study systematically analyses the trading habits, fee awareness and platform selection criteria of Hong Kong retail investors and quantifies the impact of trading fees on long-term investment returns. The research was commissioned by Webull HK, with Ipsos independently designing the questionnaire, conducting the fieldwork and authoring the report.

Hong Kong Investors Pay Over HK$7.34 billion in Annual Trading Fees – Long-Term Returns Eroded

The report estimates that total annual trading fees (including platform fees and commissions) paid by Hong Kong retail investors for Hong Kong and US stock transactions amount to approximately HK$7.34 billion, with average annual trading fees per person reaching HK$2,094. These costs may appear modest on a per–trade basis, but they accumulate year after year through the compounding effect, creating a structural drag on long–term asset growth. Under a hypothetical 10% annual investment return, active traders could lose more than 20% of their investment returns over five years due to trading fees, and more than 50% over ten years. Historically, high–frequency trading was often seen as a sign of poor investment discipline. However, the report points out that the core issue is not the number of trades itself, but the friction cost attached to each transaction.

65% of Investors Underestimate the Impact of Trading fees – 35% Have Never Calculated Their Annual Fees

The report also reveals that investors generally lack a clear grasp of their own trading fees. Up to 65% of respondents still believe that trading fees have a “moderate, small, or almost no impact” on investment returns. 35% have never calculated their annual trading fees, and 84% are not fully aware of the components of the fees they pay. This indicates a widespread underestimation of the long–term compounding effect of trading fees. Such information asymmetry not only affects investment decisions but also undermines investors’ ability to compare the true costs of different platforms.

“Commission–Free” Does Not Equal Zero Cost – Limited Awareness of Actual Fee Structures

In terms of awareness of different fee types, 67% of respondents are aware of trading commissions, but only half know about platform fees. Awareness of deeper charges such as custody fees, depository fees and dividend handling fees is below 50%. The study reflects that while investors generally know they must pay fees, many do not truly understand where those fees come from or the actual cost differences between platforms.

Online Brokerages Offer Significant Price Advantage, Laying the Foundation to Reduce Trading Friction

The report shows that 59% of respondents use online brokerages to trade Hong Kong or US stocks, and in the US stock market, the penetration rate of online brokerages reaches as high as 78%. Younger investors show significantly higher acceptance of online brokerages, with a 79% usage rate among the 30–39 age group – in contrast to the preference for banking among those aged 50 and above.

The report further reveals that online brokerages have the lowest average annual per–person trading fees for Hong Kong and US stock transactions (HK$1,188). Banks charge 22% more than online brokerages (HK$1,444), and traditional securities firms charge 78% more (HK$2,112). This gap reflects the structural efficiency advantages of online brokerages and demonstrates that reducing trading friction is not impossible – it depends on a platform’s technology architecture and business model.

When it comes to platform selection factors, respondents place the greatest importance on “Product & User Experience” (74%), followed by “Trust & Service” (68%) and “Costs & Fees” (62%). These results indicate that when choosing a trading platform, investors are not simply looking for the lowest fees, but rather consider platform stability, brand credibility, fee transparency and overall service quality in a comprehensive manner.

The Era of AI Agentic Trading Has Arrived – Zero–Fee Model Lays the Groundwork

The findings of this study are highly consistent with the global technological transformation underway in the brokerage industry. Anthony Denier, Group President and CEO of Webull Corporation, noted during the Q1 2026 earnings call: “We are at a true turning point in financial services. Over the past ten years, the competitive focus for retail brokers has been the user interface – who has the cleanest, most intuitive app. But a new dimension of competition has opened: the interface of the future is not the screen on your smartphone – it is the API.”

Webull has already deployed an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, enabling third–party AI agent platforms to securely connect with Webull’s trade execution infrastructure – positioning Webull as the preferred execution and custody layer in the emerging AI agent ecosystem. In addition, Webull has been actively building out its AI product line globally. Its AI research tool, Vega Analyst, is currently being tested, allowing retail investors for the first time to access institutional–grade sell–side research depth on demand. Webull also plans to launch AI Portfolio within the year, enabling AI agent–driven portfolio construction and trade execution – making strategy tools that were once reserved for institutional investors progressively available to retail investors.

Mr. Wang Haichen, Chief Executive Officer of Webull HK, said: “The findings of this Ipsos study confirm a core issue in our industry: trading friction is a hidden tax on retail investors, and the cumulative effect is particularly significant for active traders. As AI agents help investors analyze markets in real time, optimize portfolio allocations, and automatically execute trading strategies, the friction cost per trade becomes even more critical – if every trade executed by an AI agent incurs a commission and platform fee, the frequency advantage of intelligent trading will instead turn into a cost burden.”

Mr. Wang added: “Webull HK is the first broker in Hong Kong to offer true ‘zero commission, zero platform fee’ for both US and Hong Kong stocks. Our goal is to eliminate trading friction at its source, so that in the coming era of AI agentic trading, investors can fully unlock the value of intelligent strategies rather than surrendering their returns to friction costs. As investors pay more attention to actual trading expenses, platform competition will gradually shift from a pure price war to competition based on transparency, technological innovation, and overall ecosystem experience.”

Note: Webull does not charge any commission or platform fee for Hong Kong and US stock trading.

About Webull HK
Webull Securities Limited (“Webull HK”) is a licensed corporation with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, holding SFC Type 1 (“Dealing in Securities”), Type 2 (“Dealing in Futures Contracts”), and Type 4 (“Advising on Securities”) licenses, with CE No. BNG700. Since its establishment in 2019, Webull HK has always put investors first, leveraging the technological expertise and proven success of its parent company, Webull Corporation (Nasdaq: BULL), as a leading broker in the US market, while adopting a localized business strategy in Hong Kong. With a highly competitive fee structure and a reliable, secure platform, Webull HK offers trading in a diverse range of assets including US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, and options, equipped with institutional–grade professional charting tools and real–time market data – empowering Hong Kong investors to navigate dynamic global financial markets with confidence. For more information about Webull HK, please visit https://www.webull.hk

About Webull
Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL) owns and operates Webull, a leading digital investment platform built on next-generation global infrastructure. Through its global network of licensed brokerages, Webull offers investment services in 15 markets across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Webull serves more than 27 million registered users globally, providing retail investors with 24/7 access to global financial markets. Users can put investment strategies to work by trading global stocks, ETFs, options, futures, fractional shares, and digital assets through Webull’s trading platform, which seamlessly integrates market data and information, its user community, and investor education resources. Learn more at www.webullcorp.com

About Ipsos
Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing nearly 20,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques. “Game Changers” – our tagline – summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients navigate with confidence our rapidly changing world.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120, Mid-60 indices, and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP , website: www.ipsos.com

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SOURCE Webull Securities Limited

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How President Xi Jinping Has Charted the Course for Boosting China’s Strength in Finance: Nurturing a Financial Culture with Chinese Characteristics

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BEIJING, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from en.qstheory.cn:

Boosting strength in finance requires us to enhance not only China’s hard power but also its soft power. With an outstanding financial culture, we can shape the values that orient the financial sector, create internal incentives and constraints, and provide the moral foundations for the law and supervision. In this regard, President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to operate in an honest and trustworthy way and never cross the line; to prioritize the greater good in the pursuit of interests, rather than placing self-interest above all else; to adopt a steady and prudent approach and resist the urge to recklessly seek quick gains; to uphold fundamental principles while breaking new ground and ensure finance does not become decoupled from the real economy; and to uphold the law, ensure regulatory compliance, and refrain from misconduct. These requirements not only draw on the essence of traditional Chinese culture, but also articulate the philosophy underpinning modern finance.

Honesty is the lifeblood of finance. Since its advent, finance has been intrinsically tied to trust. China’s commercial traditions have long placed a premium on honoring one’s commitments. The requirement to operate in an honest and trustworthy way and never cross the line aims to turn the pursuit of honesty into a binding code of conduct that spans all dimensions of financial activity and ensure that financial institutions and practitioners consciously honor their commitments. In this way, the spirit of the contract, market rules, and professional ethics will become conscious norms throughout the financial sector, leaving no room for fraud or breaches of trust.

Properly managing the relationship between principle and profit is the linchpin for balancing the dual nature of finance. While capital is inherently profit-seeking, it must adhere to the baseline requirement of upholding principle. Finance is both functional and profit-driven in nature. The unique wisdom of Chinese culture lies in valuing both principle and profit, while placing greater emphasis on the former. At its core, the requirement to prioritize the greater good in the pursuit of interests aims to ensure that the pursuit of profit gives way to the functional role of finance. Financial activities must remain anchored in the overriding goals of enhancing the efficiency of the real economy and improving public wellbeing. The financial sector must fulfill its social responsibilities and develop symbiotically with the economy, society, and the environment.

Prudence can be thought of as an “immune system” preventing the spread of risk. As finance carries risk in its very DNA and has the effect of amplifying leverage, the reckless pursuit of quick gains must be avoided at all costs in the financial sector. So-called innovation and growth pursued without sufficient prudence will ultimately backfire. A steady and prudent approach must therefore become an innate part of the self-discipline and conscious practice guiding the sector. Institutions must cultivate the correct perspectives on operations, performance, and risk management. They need to strike the right balance between stability and progress, between short-term and long-term development, and between development and security, all aimed at steady and sustainable high-quality development.

*This is an excerpt from an article titled “How President Xi Jinping Has Charted the Course for Boosting China’s Strength in Finance” by Qiushi Editorial Department published in Qiushi Journal, English edition, No. 2, 2026. Full text: https://en.qstheory.cn/2026-05/25/c_1184007.htm 

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SOURCE en.qstheory.cn

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Mashreq launches generative AI capabilities to strengthen fraud risk management with Clari5

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BENGALURU, India, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mashreq, a leading financial institution in the MENA region, has launched new generative AI capabilities within its fraud platform in collaboration with Clari5 – A Perfios Company. The move brings tangible benefits across three priority areas: enhancing fraud detection effectiveness, improving analyst productivity, and supporting stronger investigative decision-making.

Announced at Mashreq’s Innovation Hub in Dubai in the presence of senior leadership from both organizations, the launch demonstrates how generative AI can be applied within a banking environment to complement the expertise and judgement of fraud professionals.

Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer at Mashreq, said: “In an increasingly digital financial landscape, fraud is becoming more sophisticated, and the way banks respond must adapt accordingly. At Mashreq, we are committed to implementing AI responsibly in areas where it can have a meaningful impact, strengthening the resilience of our operations and the trust our customers place in us.”

Nitin Chugh, MD and Group CEO, Perfios, said: “Our collaboration with Mashreq demonstrates how generative AI can help banks tackle the growing complexity of financial crime by bringing together disparate information, accelerating investigations and enabling better-informed decisions. The goal is to augment investigators’ expertise, not automate judgement, while ensuring AI operates with the rigour and accountability that financial crime management demands.”

Rivi Varghese, Co-Founder and CEO, Clari5, said: “Banks don’t need AI that acts on its own. They need AI they can govern by their own rules. Clari5 has shown how AI can operate on-premises inside a bank’s own environment, grounded in the bank’s context, and remain auditable, explainable and under human control. We are proud to have gone live with Mashreq and set an example of how enterprise-grade AI should operate in managing financial crime.”

Rania Nerhal, Group Chief Client Experience & Conduct Officer at Mashreq, said: “The value of generative AI lies in its ability to help us interpret relevant information and respond to emerging risks with greater speed, consistency, efficiency, and precision. This launch is part of our continued investment in deploying the latest technology to evolve our fraud risk management framework.”

Developed through the ongoing collaboration between Mashreq and Clari5, the new capabilities further strengthen the bank’s fraud detection platform. They are designed to deliver two key benefits:

Seamless customer experience: Supporting faster, more consistent, and more effective fraud detection.Greater consumer trust: Reinforcing confidence in the bank’s ability to protect customers and respond to emerging risks.

About Mashreq:

Mashreq is a leading financial institution headquartered in Dubai, serving individuals, entrepreneurs, corporates, and institutions across the UAE and key regional and international markets. With a heritage spanning nearly six decades, Mashreq combines digital-first innovation with deep relationship banking across retail banking, corporate and investment banking, global markets, transaction banking, Islamic banking, wealth management, and treasury. The bank delivers secure, advanced, and customer-centric experiences while actively driving the transition toward a sustainable economy. Through a robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, Mashreq is committed to facilitating sustainable finance, fostering responsible operations, and delivering positive societal impact.

With an extensive international footprint spanning the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Pakistan, Türkiye, India, the UK, the US, and Hong Kong, Mashreq seamlessly connects regional businesses with global markets while maintaining deep local expertise.

Guided by its core purpose to help customers Rise Every Day, Mashreq partners with clients to navigate change, unlock sustainable growth opportunities, and achieve long-term success.

For more information, please visit: www.mashreq.com

About Clari5:

Clari5 – A Perfios Company, is the leading provider of real-time financial crime management platforms for banks, insurance companies, telcos and other financial institutions worldwide. Powered by AI-native capabilities, Clari5 helps detect, prevent, report and investigate financial crime in real time. Trusted by 80+ banks across 30+ countries for over two decades, Clari5 unifies fraud and AML on a single platform. It processes 12+ billion transactions every month and protects more than 1 billion accounts. Clari5 is part of the Perfios group, India’s largest B2B SaaS TechFin, serving over 1,000 financial institutions across 18 countries. To know more, visit www.clari5.com.

 

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RedotPay Deepens Hong Kong Investment as OASES Strategic Enterprise Partner

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RedotPay is investing in global talent in Hong Kong to scale the city’s stablecoin payments industry and entrepreneurial ecosystem

HONG KONG, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RedotPay, a global stablecoin-based payments fintech company, has expanded its hiring and infrastructure presence in Hong Kong. The company is part of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) program and has received OASES support since being included in its strategic enterprise cohort in April 2026.

RedotPay, which serves over nine million users across more than 100 countries, has worked alongside OASES to strengthen Hong Kong’s stablecoin payments industry and entrepreneurial landscape, directing significant investment toward local infrastructure and talent.

RedotPay has added more than 125 employees in Hong Kong since 2025, recently expanding its office in Central and establishing a research and development (R&D) center in Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park with the support of OASES.

RedotPay is one of the OASES strategic enterprises exhibiting at Hong Kong FinTech Week, where it is engaging with public and private sector stakeholders and showcasing its future investment plans in Hong Kong.

Established by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2022, OASES supports the growth of high-potential companies like RedotPay to cement the city’s position as a leader in financial technology and digital assets. To date, OASES has attracted 142 strategic enterprises, which are expected to invest HK$84 billion and create around 27,000 jobs in the coming years.

“Hong Kong has become one of the world’s foremost centers of financial innovation, and we are committed to working with OASES to strengthen its position as a leading hub for the stablecoin payments industry,” said Michael Gao, co-founder and CEO of RedotPay. “Going forward, we plan to invest further in talent and infrastructure here in Hong Kong to better serve our users around the world.”

“We are pleased that RedotPay has joined the OASES cohort, with Hong Kong serving as its headquarters and R&D center. We look forward to continuing our support for RedotPay’s development and to working with partners across the ecosystem,” said Bryan Peng, Executive Director of OASES. “Its investment in local R&D and talent strengthens the digital asset ecosystem here and shows how Hong Kong can serve as a launchpad for companies with global ambitions. We look forward to continuing to support the company’s growth.”

About RedotPay

RedotPay is a global stablecoin-based payment fintech that integrates blockchain solutions with traditional banking and finance infrastructures. Its intuitive platform empowers millions around the world to spend and send digital assets, ensuring faster, more accessible, and inclusive financial services. RedotPay advances financial inclusion for the unbanked and supports crypto enthusiasts, driving global adoption of secure and flexible stablecoin-powered financial solutions to bring crypto to real life. For more information, visit www.redotpay.com.

About OASES

The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) is a dedicated HKSAR Government agency—operating directly under the Financial Secretary—established to attract high-potential and representative strategic enterprises from around the globe to set up or expand operations in Hong Kong.

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