With the explosion of the internet, stock trading has been revolutionised with brokers now offering online stock dealing platforms. In the old days of investing you would call your broker to get a quote, stocks can now be bought and sold with the click of a button on your home P.C.

In this guide you will find information about the following:
Dealing in Shares Online
Brokers commissions and taxes
The difference between investing and trading
Price quotes explained and trade types
Capital gains tax on share profits

The internet has opened up share dealing to a mass market, mainly because of the anonymous way in which you can place an execution only deal direct from your home PC or laptop whilst on the move. Many new share investors are intimidated by speaking directly to a broker, so online investing has been the choice of new investors with many high street banks now offering share dealing accounts as part of their online services. The growth of this area of share dealing is being driven by aggressive promotion and commission deals targeted to attract the younger investor. Signs are the aggressive approach is working with increasing numbers of online share dealing accounts being opened year on year.

If you are thinking about opening a share dealing account you may well be thinking "what exactly do I need? are these offers for me?" At the end of the day it's your choice and you must try and distinguish what your goals are from investing in shares online. Are you looking to perform short term deals? If so then maybe a broker with small commissions is what you need. Are you planning on buying to hold for the long term? Then commission may not be as important and good account valuation or a portfolio feature is maybe what you need.

Whatever your needs you will find a broker somewhere who is right for you. Hopefully reading through our stock investing guide will give you some ideas and point out issues which help in your search for an online stock broker.

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