The USA contains the two largest stock exchanges in the world. Find out why investors choose to put their money in US stocks and the advantages they provide.
Read the latest news about US Stock Investment products in Singapore and the best money saving tips.
What are US stocks and how does it work?
US stocks refer to stocks listed on the US financial markets, such as the NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Investors or traders can purchase US stocks with their online brokerage account. This brokerage account can be opened with any broker of choice.
Reasons to invest in US stocks
The US stock market is home to some of the largest and most well-known companies globally. Examples include Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Netflix, Facebook, Tesla, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson and Nike. To invest in these leading companies, you will have to invest in these US stocks.
As a non-US citizen investing in US stocks, you incur withholding tax on dividends. Hence, many investors invest in US stocks for capital appreciation rather than dividend yield.
How to invest in US stocks
To invest in US stocks, you would require a brokerage account. Depending on the brokerage account you use, some could require you to activate the account before you can make trades on foreign markets.
Costs of investing in US shares
When purchasing US shares, you will incur trading commission fees. There could also be a minimum commission fee as well as a custodian fee imposed. Lastly, you would have to consider the 30% withholding tax on dividends that you incur when receiving dividends paid out by US companies.
How to choose the best investment brokerage for you?
There are more options when it comes to choosing a custodian account. You can choose a brokerage firm based on factors such as:
Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and foreigners can all invest in US stocks. To do so, you would require a brokerage account that has access to the US market. However, depending on the tax treaty between your country and the US, the withholding tax on dividend would differ. For example, Singaporeans are subject to 30% withholding tax on dividends paid out by US companies.
To buy US stocks, you would require a brokerage account. Depending on the brokerage account you use, some could require you to activate the account before you can make trades on foreign markets. Do keep a look out for the price you are buying or selling the security at, as well as the number of units you are trading. The US trading hours are 09:30pm to 04:00am (Singapore time).
You can purchase the US stock of your choice using a brokerage account that gives you access to the US market. To get exposure to US stocks, you can also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that track a US index like the S&P 500 Index, or invest with a robo-advisor.
You can invest in US stocks as long as you have a brokerage account that has access to the US stock markets. The stocks you purchase will be held in your custodian account with the broker. Examples of such brokerages include Interactive Brokers, SAXO Markets and Tiger Brokers.
Singapore stocks refer to stocks listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) while US stocks refer to stocks listed on US markets. The trading commissions and minimum commission fee charged by the broker for trading Singapore or US stocks will also differ.
It is possible to use the same brokerage account to execute both Singapore and US stock trades, as many brokers provide you access to both markets. However, it’s best to check the access your broker provides before setting up the account. Some brokerages could also require you to activate your account before you can make trades on overseas markets.
You can also opt to use different brokers for trades made in different markets. For example, you can use a CDP-linked brokerage account to purchase Singapore stocks that you intend to hold for the long term, while using a custodian account to purchase US stocks.
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