National Bank Discount Brokerage launches a new version of its InvesNET.com site

National Bank Discount Brokerage Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Bank of Canada, is pleased to announce that the new version of its InvesNET Web site is now available to Internet investors. The latter will now have access to more information that will enable them to make informed decisions.

This new version of the site is the first part of a major development project. The second phase will consist in developing several new search tools and will be implemented in the fall.

Phase one of the project is now accessible and includes several additions to the site. The home page has become a true financial gateway providing the following information:

• express quotes (20-minute delay);
• comments by Dominique Vachon, Chief Economist with the National Bank;
• the value of the major stock indexes;
• exchange rates;
• five daily financial;
• daily market reviews;
• the Financier, a quarterly newsletter;
• charts of daily developments on the TSE 300.

National Bank Discount Brokerage clients will now have access to real-time quotes and charts. When an investor selects a specific stock, other pertinent information will appear on screen, such as:

• information table (bid/ask prices, highs, lows, etc.);
• basic data (earnings per share, price-benefit ratio, volatility, dividends, etc.);
• news developments on the selected stock;
• choice of three types of charts (dynamic, comparative or historical).

Clients will need a user code and password to access these new tools, which are available in the secure section of the site.

These improvements have been made to meet the growing needs of investors who wish to trade independently via the Internet. Currently, over 60% of National Bank Discount Brokerage transactions are carried out on the InvesNET site.

"Our primary goal is to remain at the cutting edge in order to meet the growing needs of current and potential discount brokerage clients," explained Yves G. Breton, President of National Bank Discount Brokerage. "We will keep this goal in mind as we continue to develop various technological solutions over the next few months."

Upcoming projects include wireless solutions services (information and transactions) and ongoing development of the Web site. The second phase of the site development project, which is scheduled for the fall, will see the introduction of an alert system, the possibility of downloading transactions on Quicken software, the sale of new products (bonds, coupons, debentures, Treasury bills), a special section on mutual funds and many other research and analysis tools.

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