Please recommend me a stock broker (or CFD provider)

[n-j]

That's good to know. I may investigate them in more detail. I understand that they aren't part of the CHESS system, so how does that work? Do they hold the shares on your behalf, or do they stay issuer sponsored? I can't really understand how that would work. Also, is it easy to withdraw money from your account whenever you need to?

In most parts of the world when you buy stock, the name that appears on the stock is the broker's name. This is referred to as being held "in street name."

The purpose of this is so the broker can provide margin facilities, increased short availability etc.

I have an IB account and the thing that won me over was their Strength and Security page on the IB website. After the Opes Prime debacle, I like many Aussie investors, am very wary where I leave my money. IB got my vote on this one.

 

[SanityShares]

This might provide you with some information:

http://sites.google.com/site/sanityshares/