A Brighton-based sharetrading web site is hoping its fixed prices will help online investors make more money.

ShareCrazy, based at the Sussex Innovation Centre (Sinc), has launched what it claims is the first onestop-

shop for private investors.

The site, hosted by cartoon investor, Joe Public, has added a trading service to its share information service, bulletin board, morning market views and comments from the Punter's Return virtual pub.

The company charges a flat rate of £9 a trade, with no additional management fees.

Managing director Alan Green said: "There are share information sites and there are stockbrokers but we have brought the two things together.

"We wanted to make it a lot easier for the private investors who insist on knowing all about a share before they decide to buy or sell it."

An interactive tour takes new investors through a series of steps, offering them research data on company fundamentals and a stock picking tool.

After learning what they need to make decisions, they can open a trading account and trade for the fixed fee. Extra services include a fantasy portfolio feature, an expanded news service and lists of the hottest shares.

Mr Green said people were buying and selling shares, despite a difficult trading environment.

He said: "The market has plummeted this year so, ahead of the launch, the thing we were really hoping for was some kind of stability, which seems to be what we've got.

"The Footsie seems to have found some resistance about the 4,000 mark, with volatility around that level. As a result, a lot of blue-chip companies are being traded and gains have been made."

The size of trades varied but averaged between £800 and £1,000.

The site was built in association with HBP, an established stockbroker.

The service is based in London but the company has its main office in Sinc.

Mr Green said: "We have the benefit of working alongside some of the region's truly innovative businessmen and women."

www.sharecrazy.com
www.sinc.co.uk