The New York Stock Exchange reports that a survey of trading costs indicates that it has the world’s lowest overall cost of trading.

According to the first-quarter 2007 Global Trading Cost Analysis report by Elkins/McSherry, overall trading costs on the NYSE improved from fourth quarter 2006, when the NYSE also ranked first overall. The NYSE also topped the rankings in all four quarters of 2006.

In the first quarter of 2007, all-in trading costs on the NYSE dropped to 15.06 basis points, from 16.32 bps in Q4 2006. Japan ranks second at 18.75 bps, followed by Nasdaq at 20.36 bps.

“The NYSE’s status as the world’s the lowest-cost provider of transaction services is a clear advantage for our customers, particularly our listed companies, investors and order flow providers,” said NYSE Euronext CEO John Thain. “This data illustrates that all-in trading costs on the NYSE continue to decline further as we work to strengthen our market and technology infrastructure.”

The quarterly study looks at the all-in costs of trading — commission, and fees and market impact — on 60 different exchanges around the world.

“With the investment community focused as ever on transaction costs, Elkins/McSherry is committed to provide detailed data reports that give institutional investors clear, transparent insight into the total transaction costs on all of the world’s major exchanges,” said James Bryson, Elkins/McSherry senior managing director. “These data enable institutional investors to make meaningful comparisons of all-in trading costs across the global exchange landscape.”