Line Launches Brokerage Service on Smartphone App

August 21, 2019

Tokyo- Japan's Line Securities Corp. said it has launched a brokerage service on the Line free messaging app for smartphones.

The joint venture between Nomura Holdings Inc. and Line Financial Corp., a unit of Line Corp., lets users trade shares of 100 major Japanese companies and nine types of exchange traded funds, starting from buying one share worth only several hundred yen, for example, according to the company's announcement on Tuesday.

Line Securities aims to win over beginner investors, such as young workers, by making the service available until 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Payments in the service can be made through the Line Pay online payment service, in addition to via bank accounts.

The service is currently available only on smartphones running on Google LLC's Android operating system.

"We want even beginners to accumulate experience and knowledge in investing," Line Securities Co-Chief Executive Officer Yoshikazu Yonenaga said at a press conference.

Line Financial has a 51 pct stake in Line Securities, while Nomura owns 49 pct. Jiji Press