Smaller commission pool to squeeze e-trading

Asian managers may have to direct more commission dollars to fewer sell-side brokers and shift to high-touch sales trading if trading volumes do not grow this year, says Greenwich Associates. A recent report* by the US research house reckons that commission volumes in Asia could have shrunk by 20-30% across 2012. That would translate into $2.32 billion paid during the year for trading Asia cash equities ex-Japan and Australia, from $2.66 billion in 2011. The forecast was made ba…