Online trading by private investors has returned to 1999 levels, according to a quarterly survey by benchmarking service ComPeer and the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers (Apcims).

In the fourth quarter of 2001, online share trading volumes increased 34% from the previous quarter. In addition, the ratio of share sales to purchases (the sold/bought ratio) revealed execution-only clients as net buyers of shares for the first time since 2000.