brokerage account | US based

Options house a value broker based in the US. They are one of the cheapest brokers around and are ideal if you are opening a brokerage account with a small amount of money, as the trading fees will not cut into your profits like they would with an expensive broker.

fees

• $2.95 flat fee
• No account minimum
• No charge for account inactivity
• $15 wire transfer out fees
• Free US data feeds

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brokerage account | US based

TradeKing has won several awards in the US from companies like SmartMoney and Wall Street Journal in the best discount broker category. The brokerage account is easy to use and ideal for the new investor. TradeKing also have no minimum deposit and do not charge inactivity fees.

fees

• $4.95 flat fee
• No account minimum deposit
• No charge for account inactivity
• $20 wire transfer out fee
• Free US data feeds
  

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brokerage account | UK based

TD Waterhouse has an excellent reputation as a broker in the UK. The brokerage account offers some of the cheapest trading fees in the UK and it is easy to open an account online.

• £9.95 flat fee if customer has placed 10 trades in the previous quarter
• No minimum initial account deposit
• Inactivity fee of £10 per quarter (No charges if account is still active)
• Can trade on 15 different international stock markets
• Free UK data feeds
• No stamp duty on North American and European markets.

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spread betting account | Worldwide (except US due to spread betting law)

Financial Spreads are a spread betting firm that offer a different type of account to trade shares with than a brokerage account. Read more about spread betting. Financial Spreads have a trusted reputation in the UK spread betting industry.

A spread betting account is tailored towards the day and swing trader as overnight fees are incurred, however the financial benefits spread betting offers outweigh the overnight charges, read why.

fees

• trade from spreads of 1 point
• no minimum deposit
• no capital gains tax payable
• no stamp duty payable

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brokerage account | US based

Trademonster differ themselves by enabling you to completely customise your trading platform. They also offer free stock market education with their leading media site optionMONSTER.

fees

• $7.50 flat fee
• Free US data feeds
• $2000 account minimum
• $20 wire transfer out

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FOREX brokerage account | UK only

eToro is an English based Forex company that provide a FOREX trading platform that you can open a free practice account on. The site is very user friendly and therefore makes it easy for users who benefit from a 'hands on' approach to learning.

open a FREE practice account | visit website

Not sure whether to open a brokerage account just yet? Try a free practice account to get a feel for trading.