May 28 (Reuters) - U.S.-based online brokerage Robinhood

said on Wednesday it was expanding its desktop platform

into the UK to extend its reach among retail investors looking

for more sophisticated trading tools.

The launch comes months after the company first unveiled the

product for its U.S. customers.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Retail investors are increasingly viewing trading as an

alternative career path to build wealth and strengthen their

financial health, rather than just a hobby.

To cater to their evolving needs, firms such as Robinhood

are rolling out additional features typically reserved for more

advanced traders.

Desktop trading platforms allow users to tailor their

workspace more effectively than mobile apps. Traders can monitor

multiple charts simultaneously and execute trades faster.

CONTEXT

Robinhood's desktop platform, called 'Robinhood Legend', was

launched in the U.S. in October.

The company, which is aiming to become a broader part of its

customers' finances, also launched wealth management and private

banking services in March.

The expansion could help insulate the company from the

cyclical nature of its core trading business.

KEY QUOTES

"Retail customers are a lot more engaged in the market, a

lot more thoughtful about what they're invested in, more

interested in the news and movements and passionate about the

names they hold," Jordan Sinclair, head of Robinhood UK, said in

an interview.

Many of the traders have come to realize that trading offers

a far more efficient path to achieving financial goals than

simply parking money in low-interest accounts, he added.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini

Ganguli)