The Securities Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC) announced yesterday that it would suspend the issuance of new central counterparty licenses to derivatives trading firms, saying that four firms are sufficient to serve the current market demand. However, it said it would still accept derivate broker applications to boost trading activity in the inherently risky sector. The SECC officially granted its first round of derivatives trading licenses last August, nearly 10 months after it vowed to formally regulate the financial instrument to provide investors with more options to earn profits. In addition to four licensed central counterparties, the market regulator has handed out six brokerage licenses so far. (Source: Phnom Penh Post)