How to buy international shares

• Investing internationally can help you diversify your portfolio and spread your risk.
• You can trade international shares online, 24/7, through online share trading platforms.
• This is a step-by-step guide on buying international shares in the US.

​​Investing in shares could help you generate wealth in the long term, provided you invest in the right stocks.

The good news is that your portfolio isn't limited to the local market, as buying shares in leading international companies is more accessible than ever.

All you need to do is sign up with one of the many online stockbrokers providing access to international markets and invest in your favourite shares trading on global stock exchanges like the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Singapore Exchange (SGX).

Scroll down for more details on how you can get started.

Why should I consider purchasing international shares?

If you only invest in US shares, you may find yourself limiting your portfolio's performance. That's because the US stockmarket only forms a part of the global stockmarket.

By investing internationally, you can gain access to large companies not listed in the US. For instance, the US stockmarket gives you the option of investing in stocks of several global leaders, such as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Tesla, and many more. You can also find more companies in the tech sector overseas, which is considered to be under-represented in the US. Furthermore, investing in international shares helps you diversify your portfolio, which can reduce your investment risk.

Interestingly, investing in international shares is not as expensive as you may think. In fact, several online platforms like Stake and eToro offer commission-free trades in major markets (such as US markets), making it cheaper to buy international shares than US shares in some cases.

Pros and cons of international share trading

Overall, if you are planning to purchase international shares, you should apprise yourself of the benefits and drawbacks to plan an investment strategy that matches your risk appetite. Investing in shares is subject to market risk, but purchasing international shares can help control that risk. The success of your portfolio, however, will ultimately depend on the type of stock you choose and how it performs during your investment horizon.

Options for international investment

If you wish to buy international shares, there are three ways to explore:

1. You could directly invest in stocks listed on global exchanges using a share trading platform.
2. You could invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), which is essentially a basket of securities designed to track the performance of market indices (like S&P 500), sectors, commodities, and so on.
3. You could also gain exposure to international markets through contracts for difference (CFDs) that track global shares. CFDs are derivative-based products where you speculate on the price movement of underlying assets, such as global shares. As you don't own the underlying asset with CFDs, you can profit from such an instrument irrespective of whether the market is going up or down, depending on your outlook. But CFD trading is typically more complex than buying shares or investing in managed funds and ETFs. It is usually considered more suitable for experienced traders.

Note that you can only trade US shares during business hours, while international shares can be traded online 24/7.

Here's a list of some of the top-performing online brokers that allow you to trade both international shares and CFDs.

Buying international shares in the US is quite straightforward. Here's how to get started.

Step 1: Select a trading platform

There are a number of trading platforms with access to international markets. Some of the factors you may consider while comparing brokers include:

• Brokerage fees.
• International markets you are allowed to trade on.
• How long does it take for a transaction to be executed?
• Foreign exchange fee.
• Access to market research and research tools.
• Buffer size, which is a percentage of the order value added to your cost to protect the provider from currency fluctuations while the trade clears.
• Whether mobile trading is available and free.
• Customer service hours.
• Any limits on restrictions or order size.

Step 2: Sign up for an account

You can open a share trading account online if you meet the following criteria:

• You are 18 years or over.
• Have a US residential address and mobile number.
• Possess a valid ID proof, such as a driver licence, birth certificate or passport to verify your personal details.

Step 3: Fund your trading account

Once your personal details are confirmed, you can provide details of your bank account to link it to your trading account or set up other financing options if available. Once all the information is updated, you can fund your account and start trading.

Note that some online platforms have minimum trading limits so you need to fund your account accordingly.

Step 4: Start trading

Before you start trading, decide whether you wish to invest in shares, ETFs or CFDs. As CFDs are derivatives-based, they are considered riskier and more complex. So, CFD trading is generally advisable for experienced traders. If you are a beginner, ETFs can provide you with an easy way to spread your risk through portfolio diversification compared with investing in shares of a single company.

Once you've decided where you want to invest, you can begin trading online through your new international share trading account. You are likely to find a dashboard with features like current market prices, change in prices over time and options to research and trade. Some platforms also provide free tutorials for beginners that could help you get started with confidence.

Verdict

Investing in international shares can help you diversify your portfolio and spread your risk. Still, it's worth remembering that share prices are volatile, and they can quickly go up and down, having a massive impact on your investments. Therefore, it's important to research each share investment and learn about the pros and cons to pick assets that match your risk appetite and investment goals.