The firm is the largest Internet broker.

But as the trend gathers force, American Internet brokers have begun moving into Britain and are increasingly setting eyes on the Continent.

Other Internet brokers, like Ameritrade and DLJ Direct, part of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, are studying moves to catch up.

Indeed, Charles Schwab, long the bane of full-service brokers, is now fighting off competition from Internet brokers, like Ameritrade and the E-Trade Group, that are undercutting its price.

A. The only sort of Internet broker I have been interested in is Schwab.

But I am sure a few of the Ameritrades and E*Trades or other Internet brokers will be survivors, and may make decent investments.

What's more, many of the leading Internet brokers are geared for growth, not for a grinding battle for market share.

That will put pressures on profits of Internet brokers that charge low commissions and make their money from such payments.

NFO's surveys have found that about 22 percent of on-line investors have switched their Internet broker at least once.

Over the last two days, with volume surging to a new record of 1.21 billion shares on the Big Board yesterday, the Internet brokers have handled the business with very few reported problems.