Why invest in the share market?

CommSec share trading gives you the ability to trade Australian shares. Historically, the Australian share market has offered better long-term returns than most other investments¹, making shares an important part of a diversified portfolio.

With over 2,000 companies listed on the Australian share market, there’s plenty to choose from. Trading shares is affordable, simple and flexible, and you can use a range of strategies to suit your investment goals and time-frame.

How it works

When you buy a share, you become a part owner of that company. You will receive similar benefits to owning any business, such as a share of profits distributed through dividends, and usually the right to vote at company meetings.

The day your order is fulfilled, we send a confirmation with the details of your trade.
The ASX requires you to pay for your shares two (2) business days after the day of your trade.
When selling, we will credit your bank account two (2) business days after the day of your trade.
You can use the sale proceeds immediately (before settlement) to pay for further buy orders executed on the same or next day.

Benefits

Easy to get started

Start investing with as little as $500. Buying shares is simple with CommSec. You can track your portfolio and trade online or on the go with our App, or even over the phone.

Choice of settlement account

With CommSec, you can choose any Australian bank transaction account to use for buying and selling shares. You can use your existing bank account, or open a cash account with us.

Flexibility

It's easy to buy and sell Australian shares when it suits you. When you sell your shares, you can usually access your money two (2) business days after you trade.

Trade today without cash

CommSec is the only broker that lets you place a trade under $25,000 without cash upfront.²

Free live data and quotes

You can enjoy free access to live company data and quotes, regardless of how seldom you trade.

Free research

Enjoy free access to market-leading research, plus the latest financial market news, including daily video reports and Twitter updates from the CommSec media team.

Low cost

Trade from just $10.00³ with CommSec. It's free to join and there are no monthly or ongoing account fees, regardless of how seldom you trade.

Potential tax benefits

Share trading may offer tax benefits. For example, if you sell shares you have held for over a year you may receive a 50% Capital Gains Tax discount.

Diversification

You can use shares to build a diversified investment portfolio as entry costs are relatively low and there is a large range of shares and sectors to choose from. You might want to consider the CommSec share packs to invest in a portfolio of leading companies chosen by the CommSec Investment Management Team.

Risks

Capital loss risk

If you sell shares when the share price is lower than you bought it for, you will make a capital loss.

Liquidity risk

While most companies have many buyers and sellers, not all companies will have a buyer or seller at the price and time you want.

Market and economic risks

Like property and most other investments, companies and the share market are affected by a range of factors. Some shares may be more volatile or sensitive to different factors.

Rates and fees

Brokerage Fees

Trade Execution	Brokerage fee amount by transaction value¹
Trade online and settle your trade to a CDIA or CommSec Margin Loan²	$10.00 (Up to and including $1,000) $19.95 (Over $1,000 up to $10,000 (inclusive)) $29.95 (Over $10,000 up to $25,000 (inclusive)) 0.12% (Over $25,000)
Trade online and settle into a bank account of your choice	$29.95 (Up to and including $9,999.99) 0.31% ($10,000 and above)
Share Trades over the Phone³	$59.95 (Up to and including $10,000) 0.52% (Over $10,000 up to $25,000 (inclusive)) 0.49% (Over $25,000 up to $1,000,000 (inclusive)) 0.11% (Over $1,000,000)
CommSec Share Packs online⁴	$66 per pack of 6 stock (equates to $11 per stock⁵)
CommSec Share Packs over the phone⁴	$181.50 per pack of 6 stock (equates to $30.25 per stock⁵)
Trades requiring settlement through a third party⁶	$99.95 (Up to and including $15,000) 0.66% (Over $15,000)
One Off Trades	$66.00 (Up to and including $10,000) 0.66% (Over $10,000)
Deceased Estates	$59.95 (Up to and including $10,000) 0.52% (Over $10,000 up to $25,000 (inclusive)) 0.49% (Over $25,000 up to $1,000,000 (inclusive)) 0.11% (Over $1,000,000)
¹For GST rounding reasons, the final brokerage fee may vary from the stated or expected brokerage fee by a couple of cents. ²To be eligible, you must trade online, be CHESS Participant Sponsored with CommSec and settle your trades through either a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) or a CommSec Margin Loan. ³Brokerage charged (shares, warrants and listed managed investments): Brokerage at these rates applies each time you buy or sell a stock, warrant or listed managed investment. ⁴Normal brokerage will apply when a stock acquired through CommSec Share Packs is subsequently sold. ⁵Amount per share will be noted as brokerage on each confirmation issued. There will be no substitution should a stock have a trading halt placed on it. ⁶Includes third party Margin Lending, and where the Commonwealth Bank exercises its rights under the loan Terms and Conditions.

Other fees

Other fees may apply. Please see the CommSec Financial Services Guide

$0. There are no monthly fees associated with a CommSec Share Trading account.

Get started

Open a CommSec Share Trading Account

Be up and running in as little as 5 minutes. Start by choosing one of the options below:

Trade from $10.00

Buy and sell shares using a CommSec Share Trading Account with our cash account - with it you can seamlessly settle trades, transact and earn interest.

Join now >

Trade from $29.95

Buy and sell shares using a CommSec Share Trading Account with your existing bank account.

Join now >

Frequently asked questions

How do I transfer my shares to CommSec?

Important: The shares you wish to transfer (whether held with another broker or the share registry) must have identical registration details (both name and address) to your CommSec trading account. If registration details differ by even one character, you will need to change these details before completing the form.

Shares held with another broker

To transfer shares held with the share registry into your CommSec share trading account you will need to submit an Issuer to CHESS transfer request. You can do this online by logging in and navigating to Portfolio > Accounts (select account) > Transfers.

For the transfer to be successful the name and address registered on your issuer holdings must match your CommSec account.

Your request will be completed within 72 hours.

Shares held with the share registry
To transfer shares held with the share registry into your CommSec Trading Account you need to complete an Issuer Sponsored Holdings to CHESS Sponsorship Transfer Form.

Download the CHESS sponsorship form on our website under Forms & Brochures: Issuer Sponsored Holdings to CHESS sponsorship form.
Complete the form and attach a photocopy of the latest issuer holding statement or dividend statement.
Ensure that all share holders sign the 'Agreement' section of the form, then return the completed and signed form to the address on the form.

Your request will be completed within approximately 48 to 72 hours of receipt.

Please note: If your shares are held in another entity, for example yourself in trust for a super fund, you need to complete an Off Market Transfer form.

If you are already CHESS sponsored with CommSec, you can fax the form (and statements) to us on (02) 9280 7023.

How do I pay for my shares?

Once your buy order is partially or fully executed with CommSec, settlement will take place two (2) business days after its execution (T+2)⁴.
There are two options available for paying for your shares:

Automatic direct debit from a linked nominated bank account is the recommended option. We will automatically direct debit from your nominated bank account on T+2. To view the bank account you nominated on your application form, select Portfolio > Profile after you have logged into your CommSec account.
In addition to your nominated bank account for settlement, you can deposit funds for your buy trades via BPay. A clearance time of up to two (2) business days may apply, so it is important to organise payment early to ensure funds are clear and available on settlement date. Your payment may be partially or wholly offset under the CommSec contra policy. For a BPay payment reference number go to Portfolio > Accounts > Account details.

When you have bought and sold shares on the same day and the next trading day, your payment may be partially or wholly offset. For more information refer to the New Client Guide.

What is CHESS?

CHESS (Clearing House Electronic Sub-register System) is the system used by the ASX to record shareholdings and manage the settlement of share transactions.
If you are CHESS sponsored by CommSec you can automatically keep track of your portfolio and its market value online, it’s easy to buy and sell shares because all the required information is available, so you don't have to ask the company’s share registry to provide it.
For your holdings to be registered in the CHESS Settlement Facility, you need to be sponsored by a Settlement Participant of the ASX Group, such as CommSec. Broker sponsored holdings are allocated a Holder Identification Number (HIN).
To become CHESS sponsored with CommSec, download the form from Support > Forms & Brochures > ‘Broker to Broker CHESS sponsorship’ form.

What is the minimum amount of shares I can buy?

Your initial purchase of any particular shareholding must be at least $500 worth of shares, known as a 'minimum marketable parcel of shares'. CommSec may then allow you to purchase smaller amounts of shares to top up existing share holdings. For example, if you hold $500 worth of shares in XYZ you may be able to purchase a smaller amount of XYZ to increase your existing holding.

What is a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA)?

The CDIA is a Commonwealth Bank cash account specifically designed for CommSec share traders, allowing you to trade, save and transact, when and where it suits you. For more information about the CDIA, click here.

How do I decide what to buy?

Knowing where to start can be quite a challenge but there are ways to narrow down the possibilities.

Once you’ve defined your investment goals, think about companies you know and have a relationship with — whether it’s a company you work for, shop at, travel with or something else. Do those companies meet your investment criteria? You can use CommSec’s research tools and CommSec Learn to obtain more information to get more ideas.

Alternatively, you may prefer to try one of our share packs. These are diversified portfolios of leading companies chosen by the CommSec Investment Management Team.

How much does it cost to trade?

You can trade with CommSec with brokerage from as low as $10.00³. Brokerage is charged when your order results in a trade. You can find CommSec brokerage rates here.

What is the CommSec App and how do I get it?

The CommSec App is a mobile application that you can use to view your portfolio and place trades, wherever you are. You can download it to your iPad, iPhone or Android device (excluding Android tablets) from the iTunes App Store or from Google Play. For more information, click here.

How do I know when my buy/sell order has been completed?

Whenever an order you have placed results in a trade, you will receive a Confirmation Contract Note by email, post or both, depending on the preference you have selected. Confirmation Contract Notes are generated on the day of the trade. You can access up-to-date information on the status of your orders on the CommSec website at any time.

Do I need to deposit cash before I place a buy trade?

No, your CommSec Trading Account allows you to place orders of up to $25,000 without deposit². That limit applies to leading stock, and you can also buy up $7,500 of non-leading stock within that amount. If you have cash in your linked Commonwealth Direct Investment Account or have shares in your CommSec Trading Account, you may be able to increase this amount. The funds will be direct debited from your linked cash account in full on the settlement date, which is two (2) business days after your trade has taken place (T+2)⁴.

Can I sell shares through CommSec without opening a trading account?

Yes. CommSec offers a 'One Off Trade' (OOT) service for clients who do not wish to open a trading account but have an issuer sponsored holding they wish to sell. In order to sell your shares via the One Off Trade service you must have an existing account with the Commonwealth Bank or a CommSec trading account. The shares you wish to sell must be held in a different name to your existing trading account.

To complete a One Off Trade:

Download the form from below or by navigating to Support > Forms & Brochures: Shares > Australian Shares > One Off Trade Form.
Complete the form and attach the latest holding statement or dividend statement of the shares you wish to sell. Each parcel of stock will have a separate Shareholder reference number (SRN) and holding statement and will therefore require a separate trade. Please include holding details for each stock you wish to sell.
Return your completed form and statement/s via one of the below methods:

            Fax: 1300 703 210 (Attention: One Off Trades)
          Email: OneOffTrades@commsec.com.au
          Post:
            Attention: One Off Trades
            CommSec
            Locked Bag 22
            Australia Square NSW 1215

Your shares will be sold within approximately two (2) business days after receipt of your request at the prevailing market price at the time the order is placed. A Confirmation Contract Note will be issued the same day. You should retain the Confirmation Contract Note for tax purposes, as it details the price your shares were sold at and the brokerage paid.

Brokerage and settlement
Brokerage for a One Off Trade is $66 per trade up to $10,000 OR 0.66% of the value of the trade if greater than $10,000. It is deducted from the proceeds of the trade.
The net amount will be posted to you as a cheque on the second business day after your order is executed (T+2). Please ensure that your registration details with the share registry are up to date and accurate. We will post the Confirmation Contract Note and cheque to the registered address of your shareholding.

Important information
CommSec cannot execute a One Off Trade unless you have an existing account with the Commonwealth Bank or CommSec. Where you wish to sell shares that are held in the name of a trust or company you must have an existing Commonwealth Bank account or credit card in the same name as the registered name on the shares.
Any Commonwealth Bank or CommSec account details provided by you on the One Off Trade Form are for identification purposes only, and proceeds will be credited in the form of cheque only.
Warrants cannot be sold using this form and no early settlement is available.

Download One Off Trade Form here

Financial Services Guide

The Financial Services Guide ("FSG") provides information about Commonwealth Securities to help you decide whether to use the financial services we offer.

Download the Financial Services Guide

Share Trading Terms and Conditions

For a complete outline of what your obligations are when you buy or sell shares through CommSec please review the Share Trading Terms and Conditions document.

Download the Share Trading Terms and Conditions

Other Forms & Brochures

For all other forms & brochures regarding other financial services we offer.

If you are looking for administrative forms, please login and proceed to Support > Forms & Downloads.

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CommSec Community

CommSec Community is our leading investment forum, a place for traders and investors, regardless of experience or tenure to learn, discuss and trade.

Talk strategies with other CommSec customers, ask questions to guide your trading experience or get help from our customer service team.

Conditional Trading

Conditional Orders allow you to trade, even when you aren’t monitoring the market. Set instructions and we will place your buy or sell order once your shares reach a specified price.

Mobile

With our free CommSec Mobile App you can watch the market, manage your portfolio and trade shares on the go. Stay up-to-date with live quotes, news and announcements, plus use our charts to identify your next trading opportunity.

Important Information

¹Sourced from Reuters, Real Estate Institute of Australia, CoreLogic and IRESS. Data from: 1991-2016 – to June 30.

² The trading limit is up to $25,000 for leading stock and this includes $7,500 for non-leading stock. You are able to trade up to these amounts without any deposit requirements, but funds must be available on the morning of the settlement date.

³ To be eligible for discount brokerage you are required to trade online, be CHESS sponsored and settle your trades through a CDIA or a CommSec Margin Loan or a CommSec Adviser Services Investment Loan.

⁴ Exceptions will occur when the stock is tracking under a Deferred Settlement basis.