InvestDirect International Online Share Dealing FAQs - common questions answered

You can deal in most UK shares on the London Stock Exchange including some UK Exchange Traded Funds and most shares on AIM. You can also deal in most US shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and NASDAQ.

No. This service is not currently available.

The HSBC InvestDirect International website is accessible 24 hours a day Monday to Saturday and after 06:00am on Sunday (following the scheduled maintenance period from 00:00am to 06:00am on Sunday). Customer Services is open Monday to Friday 07:30 - 21:30 and Saturday 10:00 - 16:00 (it is closed on Sunday). Please note that all times are Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

If you place an order to trade when the stock market is closed it will be sent to the market the next trading day. There is a risk of higher price volatility when placing an order when the market is closed, or near to a market's closing or opening, and you should consider entering a price limit.

When entering a 'Buy' or 'Sell' order in UK shares, you'll see a Guaranteed Price on the Preview Order screen where available. The price will be shown with the label "Guaranteed Price", together with a countdown timer giving you 15 seconds to confirm the order. If we are unable to offer a Guaranteed Price the quote will be labelled as "@ best" and you'll see the message "The price at which your order is executed may differ from the indication price". Please note that Guaranteed Prices are not available for US shares.

Prices displayed from the Quote function are 15 minutes delayed. Indicative prices displayed during trading are the most recent live prices.

Within the HSBC InvestDirect International website there is a 'Trade history' page where you can monitor the progress of your orders. As soon as a trade is executed, you'll see the execution price. You'll also receive a contract note at your email centre within the website shortly after trading.

Your trading limit is an agreed "settlement" limit - enabling you to trade with HSBC InvestDirect International up to an agreed amount, prior to settlement funds being drawn or paid through your account with HSBC Bank International. You will receive a Trading Limit at enrolment.

You will automatically receive a Trading Limit when you apply and are accepted for the HSBC InvestDirect International Investment Portfolio. If you wish to change your agreed limit, then you should contact HSBC Bank International on +44 1534 616000 (Open 24 hours a day, every day of the year).

During the registration process, you will be required to select how you want to receive dividends - either in cash or where appropriate, as shares (scrip/stock dividends). The latter option means you are effectively being offered shares of the equivalent dividend value in the same stock. We will add these to your existing holding. If you have given a standing instruction to always take cash or scrip, you will still be able to change your instruction on each dividend but your standing instruction will be the default for further dividend payments (unless otherwise advised).

Cash dividends will be credited to your Settlement account and transferred, on the same day, to your nominated account with HSBC Bank International. You'll be able to obtain further details of the payment from the HSBC InvestDirect International website or Customer Services. A consolidated Tax Certificate will be issued at the end of each tax year detailing all income received.

Yes. Just complete the transfer form found on the HSBC InvestDirect International website under 'Services', by selecting 'Share transfer' , and HSBC InvestDirect International will liaise with your broker to complete the transfer.

HSBC InvestDirect International offers the ability to transfer securities in:

• over 1300 shares on the main London Stock Exchange
• over 150 shares on AIM
• over 800 shares on NASDAQ
• over 2800 shares on NYSE
• over 700 shares on AMEX

If you are unsure whether your shares are eligible, you can by sending a secure e-message with details of the shares to HSBC InvestDirect International from your secure e-messaging service within the website. HSBC InvestDirect International will check their eligibility and send a response to your secure email account.

No. HSBC InvestDirect International does not charge for depositing or transferring out shares.

You get a live feed of global coverage of world headlines and company news. You can search for news by company, and by a given selection of categories.

The Market Data we use (share prices, charts and news) is delayed by no more than 20 minutes.