Recommended Internet Stockbrokers in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States
(Stockbroker sites are also very useful to access company announcements, share charts, quotes and other information)

	ASB Securities offers an Internet, Telephone and Advisory stockbroking service.  The internet service charges a flat fee of NZ$24.95 plus a NZ$4.50 trade fee (i.e. a total of NZ$29.45) for trades up to NZ$30,000.  About $30,000 the brokerage is 0.3% plus the trade fee - so break larger transactions into under $30,000 trades.  For example, a $100,000 trade would cost $304.50 - so split into four trades of around $25,000 and pay a total of just $117.80.
Australian fees are the same - A$24.95 on trades up to A$30,000 - but exclude the $4.50 trade fee. ASB Securities offers you the security of dealing with a bank - but the website leaves much to be desired!

	Direct Broking offers both low cost "Cash Rate" (i.e. paid from a cash management account) and a "Credit Rate" (payable by cheque) internet stockbroking service.  The "Cash Rate" fees are NZ$29.50 on trades up to NZ$15,000 plus a very small 0.05% on the balance over NZ$15,000.  For Australia it is A$29.50 on the first A$15,000 plus a high 0.3% on the balance over A$15,000.
The "Credit Rate" is NZ$29.50 plus 0.3% of the full value of a NZ trade.  In Australia, 0.7% with a minimum of A$40.00.

	National Bank provides an internet stockbroking service through First NZ Capital Securities. The brokerage is NZ$29.50 on trades up to $10,000 plus 0.3% on the balance above that amount. Your shares will normally be held in a broker nominee account (to simplify processing), but you can have them registered in your own name.

	Weblink provides a wide range of services including live quotes from the Australian stockmarket, live Personal Portfolio Valuation (covering all Australian shares and options), news, company reports to the Australian Stock Exchange. Some services free, some by subscription.

Merrill Lynch HSBC InvestDirect offers a Net Trader and a Phone Trader service. Net Trader charges A$23.95 for trades up to A$10,000 then A$29.95 for trades up to A$30,000 and 0.11% on trades over A$30,000.  Phone Trader fees are A$54.95 on trades to A$10,000 then A$69.95 on trades up to A$55,000 and 0.13% on trades over $50,000. The main negative factor is that extemely low interest rates are paid on cash balances!

	Sanford changes 0.11%, with a minimum of A$29.95 per trade. Sanford provides a wide range of services (real time quotes, market depth, news, company information) covering all Australian listed companies but some of these are only available to "Premium" accounts - at a monthly charge of $10 (or free if you make at least two trades).

	E*Trade Australia charges 0.11% brokerage with a minimum of A$32.95. In addition, E*Trade Australia offers a wide range of services (real time quotes, market depth, news, company information) with a "Standard" account which are free if you make at least two trades every six month or have over $10,000 of assets in your account (otherwise there is a fee of A$16.50 per quarter)..

		FasTrade is the Internet service of UK broker, Torrie & Co. The brokerage rate is just 0.5%, with a minimum of just £15 and a maximum of £30 (on trades worth up to £40,000).
There are accounts fees of £20/year or 0.04%/year on portfolios worth over £200,000 (i.e. £80 on a £200,000 account). FasTrade offers the easiest way to buy and sell UK Unit Trusts, but are a little expensive. The initial commission - usually 3% - is fully rebated, but they charge £55-70 buying and another £55-70 to later sell.

	E*Trade is not the cheapest US broker (US$19.95 for "limit" orders, US$14.95 for "market" orders), but they offer a full range of services (i.e. options, company new, profiles, charts) and a very high quality service.

	Brown is another US Internet broker charging just US$5.00 for "at market" orders and US$10.00 for "limit" orders, plus charging a low "margin" interest rate and offering "real time" quotes. But you need US$15,000 plus 5 years experience and an Income over US$40,000 to open an account

	Wang charges just US$5.00 for "at market" orders and US$8.00 for "limit" orders (but "margin" interest rates are 1-3% higher than at Brown & Co).

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