Best international brokers?

[aster]

I'm new to the forums but I need some advice as I'm finding it exceedingly difficult to find what I'm looking for.

Basically I'm keen on investing in US stocks, and I will be converting my AUS into USD shortly to sleep well at night and be ready for the next time the US markets take a dive.

I would prefer to deal with an Australian-based company as my brokerage house instead of the usual choices like etrade. What are my best options here, given that I will have USD to invest so I will want all my transactions carried out in USD and not AUD (so ZERO currency conversions please)?

I looked at CommSec, but they only seem to offer trades whereby they convert your AUD (which I will no longer have) and it appears that they charge quite a lot for a trade (min. 0.75%???? - wow...). Are there better choices where I could make my transactions in USD and not pay such exorbitant fees, but at the same time deal with an Aussie company?

[bailx]

I'm new to the forums but I need some advice as I'm finding it exceedingly difficult to find what I'm looking for.

Basically I'm keen on investing in US stocks, and I will be converting my AUS into USD shortly to sleep well at night and be ready for the next time the US markets take a dive

I looked at CommSec, but they only seem to offer trades whereby they convert your AUD (which I will no longer have) and it appears that they charge quite a lot for a trade (min. 0.75%???? - wow...). Are there better choices where I could make my transactions in USD and not pay such exorbitant fees, but at the same time deal with an Aussie company?

Checks these out?
http://informe.com/go/?domain=stockbrokers.com
http://www.choicetrade.com/public/tr..._platforms.php

[aster]

I mentioned that I would like to deal only with Australian companies/brokers.