TAIPEI - Taiwan and Singapore are expected to launch a link of their stock markets in the first half of next year, the island's media reported reported, citing the head of Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC).

FSC chairman Tseng Ming-chung, speaking in a hearing of the financial committee of the Legislative Yuan - Taiwan's parliament - on Thursday, said the link will be inaugurated in the first half of 2015 at the earliest, according to United Daily News.

Such a link will allow investors to trade directly in overseas markets without having to go through securities firms.

The move is part of the efforts by the FSC, Taiwan's top financial regulator, to boost globalisation of the island's equity market, the semi-official Central News Agency reported.

Mr Tseng also said a similar stock market link between Taipei and Tokyo is likely to kick off in the second half of 2015, while a connection with London is under negotiation.