THE Securities Investors Association of Singapore (Sias) is organising a two-day conference-cum-exhibition for retail investors at Suntec convention centre next month.

This is the first time the retail investors' body has organised such a large-scale event aimed at educating investors on the financial markets and promoting financial literacy.

In doing so, it joins a number of financial information providers such as Shareinvestor.com in organising conferences and exhibitions which are primarily targeted at retail investors.

Sias president David Gerald said yesterday: 'The current financial crisis has resulted in investors receiving mixed signals on the state of the global economy and the long-term health of their investments.'

The conference, to be held on July18 and 19, will give 'investors a timely platform to air their concerns and for experts to address them'.

Sponsors of the Sias conference include the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and the Singapore Tourism Board.

SGX senior vice-president Andrew Ler said: 'Events like this contribute to investor education, which is an important part of SGX's commitment to developing the capital markets industry together with listed companies, brokers and issuers.'

Speakers at the conference will include NRA Capital chairman Kevin Scully and Citigroup economist Kit Wei Zheng.

GOH ENG YEOW

This article was first published in The Straits Times.