Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ contents
Our FAQs are set out in the following sections.
- Getting started
- Transferring shares
- Westpac Cash Investment Account
- Platform features
- The Westpac Share Trading app
- Dividend Direction Service
- General trading information.
Transferring shares
The ownership of shares in Australia is recorded electronically by each company’s share registry on their principal register. The principal register is made up of the shares registered on two subregisters, the subregister sponsored by the share issuer (Issuer Sponsored) and the CHESS subregister (Broker Sponsored).
Issuer Sponsored
Issuer Sponsored holdings are registered with a unique Security-holder Reference Number (SRN) which usually start with a 'I'. If you hold Issuer Sponsored shares in different companies, you will find that you have a different SRN for each shareholding. If you wish to sell Issuer Sponsored shares you will need to provide your broker with the SRN.
Broker Sponsored
The CHESS (Clearing House Electronic Subregister System) subregister is operated by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX Ltd) and requires you to be sponsored by a broker. As a Westpac Share Trading client, your shares will be broker sponsored by Australian Investment Exchange Ltd (AUSIEX) on the CHESS subregister.
Broker sponsored trading accounts will be assigned a single Holder Identification Number (HIN) which starts with the letter ‘X’. It’s like an account for all your shareholdings with the sponsoring broker. If your holdings are broker sponsored, you will have just one HIN for all your holdings with your sponsoring broker.
If you have more than one broker you will have a separate HIN with each broker. You can only sell broker sponsored holdings through the current sponsoring broker. If you wish to sell them through a different broker you must first transfer the shares to the HIN of that broker.
Westpac Cash Investment Account
The Westpac Cash Investment Account is a cash account designed for Westpac share trading customers offering access to our lowest brokerage rates, competitive interest rates, bonus interest, convenient features and seamless trade settlements.
You can find out more on our Westpac Cash Investment Account page.
The Westpac Share Trading app
The Westpac Share Trading app is free to download.
As a client of Westpac Share Trading you'll have free access to our feature-rich news and research tools that offer advanced charting, the latest news feeds and access to Morningstar’s consensus, quantitative and premium recommendations.
Only brokerage costs will be applicable following the completion of a buy and sell order.
Dividend Direction Service
Our Dividend Direction Service offers you the convenience of having your Westpac Cash Investment Account automatically nominated to receive the dividends from all your current CHESS sponsored holdings.
When you elect to have dividend payments directed to your linked Westpac Cash Investment Account we’ll provide your BSB and Account Number to the share registry of each current CHESS holding and each time new securities are added to your CHESS holding. For example, following a share purchase or a transfer in of securities.
The benefits of the Dividend Direction Service are:
- Enjoy the convenience of not having to bank a cheque and wait for it to clear
- Save time, with dividends credited directly into your linked Westpac Cash Investment Account
- Earn interest (on interest bearing accounts) as soon as dividends are paid
- Have cash ready for your next investment opportunity
- Keep track of your dividends.
General trading information
Normal trading takes place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (Sydney time). At 10:00 am the market opens progressively (Opening phase) in five groups over the first 10 minutes as follows:
Group 1 - 10:00:00 am +/- 15 secs - ASX codes starting with 0 to 9 and A to B
Group 2 - 10:02:15 am +/- 15 secs - ASX codes starting with C-F
Group 3 - 10:04:30 am +/- 15 secs - ASX codes starting with G-M
Group 4 - 10:06:45 am +/- 15 secs - ASX codes starting with N-R
Group 5 - 10:09:00 am +/- 15 secs - ASX codes starting with S-Z
Between 4:00 pm and 4:10 pm, Sydney time, the market is placed in Pre-Closing Single Price Auction (Pre-CSPA). Trading stops and brokers enter, change and cancel orders in preparation for the market closing.
The Closing Single Price Auction (CSPA) takes place between 4:10* pm and 4:11 pm, Sydney time. ASX Trade calculates the closing prices during this phase.
*Random + 60 secs