Singapore Exchange (SGXL.SI) and Chi-X Global are coming up with a "dark pool" platform, a service that will enable investors to trade bulk stock deals in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and Japan. The venture, to be equally held by SGX and Chi-X, is likely to be operational in the first half of next year.

John Lowrey, CEO of Chi-X Global said: "Our experience has shown that users are looking for independent, genuinely neutral dark pools with high functionality and deep liquidity, and we believe that this joint venture will be able to deliver just that.”

Dark pools, accounting for 10 per cent trading in USA, are meant for traders to anonymously match large blocks of stock away from central exchange. The mechanism prevents distortion in prices in the broader market, concealing details of the prices.

Gan Seow Ann, the Singapore bourse's head of markets, said: "SGX is pleased to offer Asia the first exchange-backed dark pool, which will complement exchange trading by reducing the market impact of large trades."

Goldman Sachs (GS.N), Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX), Liquidnet, CLSA, International Technology Group (ITG.N) are already dealing through dark pools.