Schwab drops stock trading commissions as fee war escalates
AP
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Charles Schwab office in Oakland, Calif. Charles Schwab is dropping commissions for online trading of U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds, the latest slash in an industry battle that’s drastically cut the cost of investing, July 14, 2010. The announcement on October 1, 2019, sent shares of other brokerages plummeting. (Photo: AP)

Charles Schwab is dropping commissions for online trading of U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds, the latest slash in an industry battle that’s drastically cut the cost of investing.

Tuesday’s announcement sent shares of other brokerages plummeting. TD Ameritrade lost 22.7%, on pace for its worst day in 13 years. ETrade Financial lost 18%. Schwab fell 10%.

Schwab said commissions for mobile and web trading of stocks and ETFs listed in the U.S. and Canada will drop to zero from $4.95 on Monday. The industry has been slashing fees across investments for years, as customers demand lower expenses. Stock mutual funds last year kept $55 in fees for every $10,000 invested, according to the Investment Company Institute. That’s down from $100 in 2003.