HSBC Invest Direct

Three levels of service are on offer: InvestDirect, InvestDirect Plus (which both require an HSBC bank) account and InvestDirect Plus Frequent Trader.

With InvestDirect you can only deal LSE, AIM and LSE-listed Irish shares; European shares; Exchange Traded Funds and gilts. With InvestDirect Plus and Frequent Trader you can trade NYSE, Nasdaq and AMEX stocks as well.

Trading is at best (via real-time indicative prices) and at limit (good for the day online, and good for 28 days by telephone).

UK stocks on InvestDirect and InvestDirect Plus are traded at £11.95. On InvestDirect, Euro stocks are traded at 1% on the first €3k and at 0.5% thereafter (€20 to €70). On InvestDirect Plus, US equities are traded at $29.95 for the first 1,000 shares and at $0.03 per share thereafter. European stocks are traded at 1% (€20 to €29.95).

On Frequent Trader, the first 9 US trades per calendar quarter cost £11.95 and the balance £6.95. ISA and PEP stocks are traded at a £5/$5/€5 dealing surcharge. There is no SIPP facility.

Research and tools include analysts' consensus and broker forecasts. News and price alerts are delivered by e-mail.