How Can I Invest In Foreign Stocks

Invest In Internationally Focused Funds

The easiest way for you to invest in foreign stocks is by investing in exchange-traded funds or mutual funds that include nondomestic companies.

Buying shares of a fund such as the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF gives you a position in more than 1,300 companies on the continent, while the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF confers exposure to more than 1,200 large and mid-size companies from countries including China, India, Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa. Alternatively, a fund such as the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF mostly consists of U.S. companies, but Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock is one of its biggest components — and the fund also includes foreign chipmakers ASML Holding and NXP , among others.

Individual Investor: Must Be At Least 20 Years Old

New Investor

Current Investor

All required documents must be certified by customers with their signature similar to that given to the company.

Juristic Person

All documents must be certified by authorized director with their signatures similar to that provided to the company.

Account Type : The account type for foreign investment will be a Cash Balance account. A Cash Balance account is fully funded, i.e. the investor credit line is equal to the amount deposited with SCB Securities

Account Approval Process

Permissible Allocation for Foreign Securities Investment

Profits Are Subjected To The Currency Exchange Rate

When you invest in foreign stocks, theres always currency risk involved. Let us understand this with the help of an example.

Lets assume that you are investing in the US stock market. When you bought the US stock, the currency exchange rate was $1= Rs 68. However, next year- when you sold the US stock, let say the Indian currency got stronger, and the currency exchange rate becomes $1 = Rs 62.

In such a case, you have already lost 8.8% due to the change in the exchange rate. Thats why when you invest in foreign stocks, profits are always subjected to the currency exchange rate.

Read Also: Crawl Space Encapsulation Return On Investment

Is Hon Hai A Good Stock To Buy

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. has support from accumulated volume at $6.70, which could be a good buying opportunity given that an upwards reaction can be expected when the support is tested. The level of risk associated with this stock is medium due to its average daily movements and high trading volume.

Investing In Foreign Stocks Through New Startups Apps

In the past few years, many new starts have been launched in India and abroad that helps Indians to invest in foreign stocks. For example, GROWW, Vested Finance, Webull app, etc help Indians to invest in US stocks.

Startups like Vested Finance are a US Securities and Exchange Commission registered investment advisor. Similarly, you can also invest in foreign stocks using the Webull app, another popular startup company that is also committed to building the best investing and trading experience for India and Global stock markets.

Don’t Miss: How To Become A Registered Investment Advisor In California

To Seize Bigger Opportunities

Once you start to invest in foreign stocks, there are no boundaries anymore. You can hunt for better opportunities in the international markets.

Besides the above-mentioned points, few investors believe that foreign companies have better resources, facilities, government cooperation, and standards. Thats why they invest in these foreign companies, compared to Indian companies.

Nevertheless, while deciding to invest in foreign stocks, you should also remember that India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. On the other hand, most of the international markets are a little saturated. Therefore, growth-wise, India has better potential.

Overall, it totally depends on your preference regarding where and how much to invest. As already discussed, there are both pros and cons to trade in international stocks.

How To Decide Where To Invest

You might think of investing in foreign stocks, but the question is which ones to choose for maximum profits? It is always recommended to invest in developed countries as they are performing well and have less correlation to emerging markets like developing countries.

As of now, the US is on a growth cycle, and overall countrys market has listed the best performing global companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc. making it one of the most suitable markets to invest in. Therefore, you can spend around 10-15% of your holdings in international stocks.

Read Also: Can You Invest In Stocks While On Disability

Buy American Depositary Receipts

Some foreign companies list their stocks on U.S. exchanges in addition to their home markets, in which case you can simply purchase shares on the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange through domestic brokerages, just as you would for a U.S.-based company. These shares will usually be in the form of American depositary receipts and represent equity stakes equivalent to a predesignated number of shares of the companys core stock on its home exchange. For example, an ADR share of the Chinese video-streaming company iQiyi trading on the Nasdaq is roughly equivalent to seven ordinary shares on the Chinese exchange.

You may also have the opportunity to buy ADR stakes in companies that dont trade on U.S. exchanges through over-the-counter markets accessible through your broker. But be aware that ADRs may not offer privileges such as voting rights that are conferred by owning a companys home-market shares, so you may need to be willing to forgo the prospect of voting as a shareholder in order to acquire stakes in promising international companies.

Costs Of International Stocks

Foreign investment doesn’t have to cost more than any other stock. You can invest in ADRs and ETFs that instantly add international stocks to your portfolio without paying trade commissions. You may pay a small maintenance fee for that ADR or fund. But it may be worth the cost.

You can also get international exposure without any added costs by buying U.S.-based multinational corporations and foreign stocks listed in the United States.

Keep in mind that if you directly own overseas investments, you will need to report that to the IRS, and it could be subject to taxes. That’s thanks to a 2010 ruling called the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act . This law requires foreign financial institutions to report any non-U.S. account or investment held by a U.S. citizen.

Read Also: Borrowing Money To Invest In The Stock Market

Extra: Buying Indian Mf/etfs With Global Equities

There are a number of mutual funds/ETFs that invest in international markets . You can invest in those mutual funds/ETFs to indirectly invest in foreign equities.

This is the easiest approach to invest in foreign stocks. An advantage of investing through mutual funds is that you wont need to open any overseas trading account. Further, you wont also require to invest a hefty amount.

Compared to direct investing in foreign stocks , investing in mutual funds/ETFs are cheap.

For example, Motilal Oswal recently started its subscription for its Motilal Oswal S& P 500 Index Fund. It is an open-ended scheme replicating the S& P 500 Index, which consists of leading 500 companies listed in the US. A few of the popular of popular mutual funds that trade in global equities are

Quick Note: Many other Indian stockbrokers are also planning to offer their clients a facility to invest in the US and foreign stocks. For example, Zerodha is planning to offer option to invest in US stocks with no minimum investment.

However, these features are yet to be launched. Nevertheless, these stockbrokers internally working on these features is a good sign for the Indian retail investors who are enthusiastic about investing in foreign companies.

Apart From The Diversification Through Investments In Domestic Stocks Investing In Foreign Stocks Would Provide Greater Stability In A Portfolio Through Geographical Diversification

Investments in stocks are considered risky, but produce higher return than fixed-return instruments in the long run. To reduce the risk, its very important to diversify by investing in a number of stocks instead of investing just in one stock.

Apart from the diversification through investments in domestic stocks, investing in foreign stocks would provide greater stability in a portfolio through geographical diversification.

Also Check: Starting An Investment Advisory Firm

Are Foreign Stocks For You

Thanks to the international access provided by the online brokers mentioned above like Interactive Brokers, you can now trade in multiple foreign markets using a number of different currencies without having to open an account abroad.

Trading international stocks involves familiarity with the local market, and the more informed you are about the particular market, the more profitable youre likely to be. Furthermore, in addition to paying higher commission costs for foreign stock trades, you might also have to pay additional taxes in the country where you trade if youve opened an account with a local broker.

Trading foreign stocks may not be for everyone, but if you are willing to do the research, trading international stocks could be lucrative and provide a vast array of additional opportunities.

Want to learn more about international investing? Check out Benzingas top picks for best international ETFs, the best international mutual funds and thebest international stock brokers.

Questrade: For Canadian Investors

For Canadian investors, Questrade is one of the most popular brokerages out there. With relatively low trading fees and an easy-to-use website, Questrade offers an attractive platform for investors.

Trading Fees: $.01/share with a minimum of $4.95 and a max of $9.95 buying ETFs is free, selling costs $0.01Account Minimum: $1,000Tradable Securities: US stocks, ETFs, options, Mutual Funds, EURUSD, CDsTop Features: Questrade offers a great option as a brokerage with low fees for trading stocks and ETFs. There are a fair amount of research tools and great reviews for its customer service. For Canadian investors, Questrade offers a noteworthy service.

You May Like: How To Invest Money In Lending Club

Should I Invest In International Stocks & Funds

Foreign markets present opportunities that you miss if your holdings are strictly limited to U.S.-based stocks. While nondomestic companies sometimes come with added risks, international companies tend to be cheaply valued relative to comparable businesses in the U.S.

Many investors prefer to pay more for domestic stocks because business growth in international markets is considered less reliable than growth in the U.S. Another big factor is that most investors simply arent as familiar with opportunities in international markets because they have limited personal experience with nondomestic companies — and because these businesses tend to receive less coverage from U.S. analysts and media outlets.

But with the vast majority of global population growth in coming decades projected to occur outside of the U.S., the associated demographic factors and the industrialization of relatively underdeveloped areas suggest that this centurys biggest economic growth will also happen outside the country.

As the worlds largest economy, the U.S. economy is likely to grow more slowly than countries with smaller, less-developed economies. While the U.S. has a population of roughly 330 million, India and China each have populations of roughly 1.4 billion people, and rising per-capita productivity could allow the economies of both of those countries to surpass the value of the U.S. economy by 2030.

The Consumer Discretionary sector can be highly cyclical but can be rewarding.

Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Risk

Similarly, the currency risk of foreign exchange fluctuation cannot be ignored. Foreign exchange fluctuation refers to the volatility of the foreign exchange currency in comparison with the Indian currency which may either cause profit or loss to the investor and accordingly the target returns should consider any foreign exchange fluctuation risk.

For instance, in case it is expected that the U.S. dollar will strengthen against the Indian rupee, you will have higher return in rupee terms and vice versa.

Recommended Reading: Best Investment To Get Monthly Income

Watch Our Video To Know More

How can one transfer money to invest out of India? How much can an individual invest in global markets from India? What are fractional shares? Who is the executing and clearing broker? Can I also invest in IPOs in these exchanges? What happens if Interactive Brokers goes bankrupt? How am I protected? Is there any Insurance protection? How do I place a trade? Can I scan the market for top gainers / losers and more? What is the portfolio analyst?

Indian Fund Houses With Foreign Tie

Indian fund houses with foreign tie-ups may sound too complicated, but the process is easier. Indian stock marketers can access foreign stocks or invest in foreign currencies with the least effort. To get started with such opportunities, look for terms such as âEmerging Marketâ and âEurope Focusâ that allow you to invest in foreign companies through the local market. Here is the procedure is to buy mutual funds that are invested in foreign stocks, and these can be traced using the NAV of the mutual funds. An additional trick is to invest in funds of funds mutual funds. These funds are invested into foreign stocks and give a certain boundary for the marketers when the SENSEX or Nifty are failing. Several global companies have outperformed despite the pandemic or the current failing market situation. One classic example of this is Lamborghini which grew its sales despite the pandemic and lockdown. It would be great to invest in foreign stocks through the Indian Fund houses. Certain mature investors donât wish to invest in mutual funds, and this is when the direct investment method helps them out. In this method, you are investing in foreign stocks from India and not just buying mutual funds.

Also Check: How To Invest In Singapore

Webull: 3rd International Brokerage Pick

For those international investors who are located in India or China, Webull is now offering services in your region. Webull is a commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading platform. Similar to Robinhood, but with more features and more of an advanced user interface. Webull really caters to advanced traders with its vast array of research and charting tools.

Trading Fees: $0Tradable Securities: stocks, ETFs, optionsTop Features: Commission-free trading and short selling, real-time market data, trading simulator, advanced mobile app

Webull also offers a free stock at sign-up if you fund your account with $100.

Check out our complete Webull review here.

How To Buy Foreign Stocks

• United Kingdom

Want to jump straight to the best? Most of our users prefer Robinhood for $0 commissions on stock trading.

A number of different options exist for buying foreign stocks versus domestic stocks if youre based in the United States. Perhaps the easiest way to purchase foreign stocks is through American depositary receipts , which basically give you access to certain foreign stocks held on deposit for U.S. investors.

ADRs are traded on major U.S. exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ.

Another lesser-known method of investing in foreign stocks are through global depositary receipts , which are like ADRs but are instead deposited with foreign banks and available to investors worldwide. GDRs are mostly used by Europeans and the stocks on deposit are usually located in Brussels or Luxembourg.

You can also buy exchange-traded funds or mutual funds whose managers specialize in foreign stocks or purchase foreign stocks directly through your broker if they have an affiliate in the stocks country of origin.

In the case of a stock thats only available on a foreign stock exchange, you would generally need to open an account with a broker in that country to purchase the stock.

You May Like: Investment Portfolio Asset Allocation Examples

Risks Of Foreign Stocks

As we discussed above, foreign stocks often carry more risk than U.S. stocks. Emerging markets are particularly risky, though that doesn’t mean you won’t find risk in established economies.

Brexit and the euro currency crisis rocked even strong stock markets like the London Stock Exchange and Euronext. As with any investment, make sure this risk lines up with your goals and overall risk tolerance.

Another risk is that of cybersecurity. Cyberattacks and security breaches are becoming more common, which is why it’s important to keep all of your investments secure. Using a VPN like when you use a broker account to purchase stocks helps keep your personal data secured.

A VPN , helps keep your transactions secured by encrypting your data. This means that no one can view your purchases online. Ofcourse, it’s also important to use a reputable broker that has an encrypted website. But having a VPN like can add an extra layer of security.

Finding The Best Fund For Your Portfolio

Foreign investment always comes down to an investors objectives and appetite for risk. Typically, mutual funds are managed by professional investors, while ETFs are passively managed with holdings based on a preexisting index. With that said, mutual funds tend to be more expensive than ETFs.

Once an investor has chosen the right type of fun to invest in, the next crucial step is determining where in the world is best to invest. Most financial advisors recommend that beginner investors seek higher-risk funds that have the potential for great returns while more experienced investors seek lower-risk funds that offer more stability.

Finding specific mutual funds can all be done online, using tools like the Yahoo! Finance Fund Screener or the Wall Street Journal Fund Screener. ETFs can be found by browsing through some of the largest ETF providers, like iShares or SPDRs.

Also Check: App For Investing In Mutual Funds