E*Trade launches pilot global trading platform

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Online bank and brokerage E*Trade Financial Corp. said on Tuesday it has launched a pilot global trading platform that gives U.S. retail customers electronic access to foreign stocks and currencies in international markets.

The platform, which will be widely available in the second quarter, allows E*Trade's U.S. brokerage customers to buy and sell common stock in Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Customers will also be able to buy and sell euros, pounds, yen, Canadian and Hong Kong dollars.

"Retail investors see international investments as a key component of overall portfolio diversification and want the added benefit of direct share ownership," said R. Jarrett Lilien, president of E*Trade, in a statement.

The platform may eventually be expanded to include online access to up to 42 international markets and related currencies, the company said.