TD Waterhouse, an execution-only broker operating in the UK, has introduced online trading in the European markets.
Markets in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain are now available online as well as via TD Waterhouse's existing telephone trading service.
Angus Rigby, CEO of TD Waterhouse UK, says interest in trading on foreign markets is booming: "We've seen a year-on-year doubling of international trade volumes since 2003 and non-UK trades now account for up to ten per cent of our daily volumes."
Rigby says much of this investor interest has been focused on US markets, but cheaper trading costs and greater flexibility are set to drive volumes in European markets as they move online.
"International trading appeals to those who want to invest directly in some of the world's best-known companies, and want to do this in real time and on a level playing field with local investors," he adds.