CONTRACT NOTE. A document issued by a stockbroker to his client, giving details of the sale or purchase of stock on the client's account. In the case of the London Stock Exchange, a typical contract note shows the cost of the shares, the cost of the Government stamp duty required to legalise the transfer, the fee charged by the company for registering the transfer and issu ing a new certificate, the brokerage charged by the stockbroker. It also states the settlement day when the shares must be paid for.