Key facts
- Citadel Securities is expanding office space in Singapore by 40% and in Sydney by 65%, its Asia-Pacific head said.
- The firm plans to add traders, technologists, researchers and support staff across Asia-Pacific offices next year.
- Citadel Securities said it added nearly 100 staff in Asia-Pacific in 2026, bringing regional employees to around 400.
- The firm secured an additional half floor at Two IFC in Hong Kong's Central district.
- Citadel Securities launched US investment-grade credit and structured products in Asia in 2026.
- The firm is applying to set up a China onshore securities brokerage, its Asia-Pacific head said.
Citadel Securities is expanding its office space in Singapore by 40% and in Sydney by 65% to accommodate growing Asia teams, the firm's Asia-Pacific head, Vikesh Kotecha, told Reuters on Thursday. The market maker is preparing to offer additional services to regional clients and to support round-the-clock trading in US equities.
"As we provide liquidity in US equities to more clients in Asia and extend trading hours to cover overnight US time, we are also looking to further strengthen our regional client service capacity," Kotecha said. Citadel Securities plans to add traders, technologists, researchers and other supporting functions across its Asia-Pacific offices next year, he said.
The expansion follows the firm securing an additional half floor at Two IFC in Hong Kong's Central district, where its first and largest Asia office is located. Citadel Securities said it has added nearly 100 staff to its Asia-Pacific team in 2026, with nearly half based in Hong Kong and the remainder in Singapore, Sydney, Gurugram and Tokyo. That brings regional employees to around 400 across six locations in Asia, within a global staff of more than 1,800.
Citadel Securities has expanded its Asian product offerings in 2026, launching US investment-grade credit, led by Redha Achour, and structured products, led by former Morgan Stanley executive Richard Smerin. Kotecha said the firm will continue to build out both businesses next year and is in the process of applying to set up a China onshore securities brokerage firm.
The buildout comes ahead of a planned shift to nearly round-the-clock trading of US stocks, which Citadel Securities expects will increase activity during Asian hours. Pre- and post-market sessions account for up to 10% of total US trading volume, while overnight sessions represent about 1%, according to the firm. Nasdaq plans to extend trading to 23 hours on weekdays in December, and Cboe plans to launch 23/5 trading of US equities from December; CME rolled out 24/7 trading of crypto futures and options in late May.
Rival firms are also expanding in the region. IMC unveiled its new office in Two IFC on Thursday as its hub for Asia-Pacific systematic equities business, and Jane Street more than doubled its Hong Kong office space in 2026 from a year earlier, while Susquehanna plans to triple its office space in the city.