Interactive Brokers Launches Fractional Shares in European Stocks and ETFs

Interactive Brokers, a major American electronic trading provider, has launched fractional shares trading for European stocks and ETFs on its platforms including IBKR GlobalTrader, a simple mobile trading app that allows investors to trade stocks worldwide.

Interactive Brokers clients can now buy and sell fractional eligible US and European stocks and ETFs, providing an easy way to build a balanced portfolio and invest in stocks regardless of stock price .

"Interactive Brokers was the first major broker to introduce split trading on US stocks and it is very popular with our clients,"said Steve Sanders, EVP of Marketing and Product Development at Interactive Brokers."The addition of European fractional stocks gives investors the ability to trade the markets more affordably, in addition to the benefit of investing in more stocks to help clients achieve diversified portfolios."

With fractional shares, there is no minimum for European stocks and investors can invest in US stocks with as little as $1.00, regardless of the stock price. Investors can use fractional shares to maximize returns by working small cash balances to work quickly, instead of holding cash and potentially earning lower returns.

Appetite for trading fractional shares has been on the rise for traders seeking out more control over their exposure in the markets. Many big companies in the trading industry such as RoboMarkets, BUX and Admirals have introduced fractional shares.