Highlights

Investing in the US Stock Market

US Market Profile - A Land of Opportunity

With the largest economy and stock exchanges in the world, the United States offers what many international investors are looking for:

  • Access to the world's most capitalised stock market
  • A very liquid stock market
  • Diverse investment opportunities

The United States remains the most important market in the world for investors. Its lucrative business climate, including regulation and taxation rules, makes it very attractive to foreign investors. No other international financial market comes close to the size, accessibility, transparency and liquidity of U.S. stock markets.

 

US markets are better capitalized

The U.S. stock markets represent the biggest single concentration of wealth in history. In terms of market capitalization, no other financial market comes close to the combined U.S. stock markets. As of March 2020, the market capitalization of the NYSE was valued at US25.53 trillions.

CountryStock ExchangeMarket Capitalization
(USD trillions)
United StatesNYSE25.53
United StatesNASDAQ11.23
JapanJapan Exchange Group5.1
ChinaShanghai Stock Exchange4.67
ChinaHong Kong Stock Exchange4.23
EuropeEuronext3.67
ChinaShenzhen Stock Exchange3.28
United KingdomLondon Stock Exchange2.92
CanadaToronto Stock Exchange1.75
IndiaBSE India1.51

 

U.S. Stock Markets are More Liquid

Just looking at the NYSE alone, the trade value was 2 times that of Shenzhen, 3 times that of Tokyo, and almost 7 times that of London. U.S. markets are still the biggest in terms of turnover as well as value. That means there's a very high chance of finding a buyer or seller of any particular stock at any given time.

CountryStock ExchangeMonthly Trade Value
(USD Billions)
United StatesNYSE1,452
United StatesNASDAQ OMX1,262
ChinaShenzhen Stock Exchange763
ChinaShanghai Stock Exchange536
JapanTokyo Stock Exchange481
South KoreaKorea Exchange277
United KingdomLondon Stock Exchange219
IndiaBombay Stock Exchange210

 

U.S. Stock Markets Offer Greater Diversification

U.S. markets offer access to a huge variety of U.S. companies seeking to raise capital. With almost 6,000 companies to select from, you can invest in major companies and brands from all over the world who list their shares on U.S. financial markets.

CountryStock ExchangeNumber of Companies
United StatesNASDAQ + NYSE5,700
ChinaShanghai + Shenzhen + Hong Kong5,500
JapanTokyo3,600
United KingdomLondon2,600

 

Source: Wikipedia, Investopedia

 

US Stock Market Investing Tips

Be updated with the current market forecasts to determine the strong and weak times to invest in the US stock market. Being on top of the current US stock market trends will give you better chances of buying and selling at the best times, thus eliminating guesswork and churn rate. You'll have peace of mind investing in the right companies to get the most of your money.

Check out these other US stock market investing tips:

  • Remember that investing involves buying a company's stock share, which makes you a part-owner. Pick the company instead of thinking of the "stock". Know the company's performance, competitors, and long-term prospects.
  • Write down the essential things that make every stock worthy of your money. Set a clear basis on what things you find attractive about a company, and opportunities you perceive for the future. Also, set your expectations, as well as the metrics that matter most.
  • Avoid unpleasant results by "buying in thirds", which is similar to dollar-cost averaging. Divide the amount you're planning to invest by three. Choose three separate points when buying shares, such as at regular intervals (like monthly or quarterly) or depending on company events or performance. For instance, you might want to buy shares before a new product launch and then place the next third of your investment into play if it becomes a hit. If not, you can divert the remaining amount elsewhere.
  • If there are a lot of choices and you can't decide what companies to invest on, you can buy "the basket"" to be a long-term winner. Buying a basket of stocks will eliminate the pressure of choosing "the one". The gains can be used from the winner to offset any potential losses. It's a great strategy to help you identify the best company to invest and double down your position if desired.

 

Read more:

Invest in US stock market

US investment options

US featured broker

 

  7 people like this.
 
scimitar US Presidential Election is coming! Normally the rally will start when the election is starting.
09/09/2012 1:46 AM
NavinShah IF you invest inUSA, then you must sleep here during the day and work in the night. Otherwise by the time you wake up in the morning her, you may find yourself in a big shit.
09/10/2012 8:05 AM
scimitar I do invest in US and Asia market... No need to be in US... I start watching the US market at 9:30pm till 3am.. and continue to look at Asia market at 9am till 4pm. What is the problem? So far, the investment is great!
09/10/2012 8:20 AM
scimitar NavinShah, are you sleeping? :)
09/10/2012 8:56 AM
stockblur what is the chiper US stock can buy now.. please advise
01/01/2013 3:29 AM
andylee Look at gold mining stocks like EGO, AUQ, AUY, KGC & ABX. All these can buy after being oversold.
23/02/2013 8:55 AM
Sanatan I am interested in trading US stocks, any recommendation of brokers ? Someone whom we can work with from Malaysia. Appreciate your advice.
16/11/2013 9:25 AM
dralhg55 Scimitar tell me how to start sound seem good
03/01/2014 2:29 AM
prosper Hello please am a nigerian and I really want to invest in US stocks but no broker seems to be accepting my country, what do I do.
24/04/2014 11:27 PM
Hitman Use proxy name..Malaysian..
27/04/2014 9:19 AM
KMGN scimitar(i respect your positive mind)
22/07/2014 7:27 AM
wanzackraizzo hello guys how to invest??
plz help me tq
11/09/2014 7:54 AM
layhoontan Scimitar , I also interested in US stock, but don't know how to get the broker ? Can u give us some advise.
08/01/2015 4:07 AM
WINMO A few friends told me that US market is better than Bursa. Appreciate advise from sifu how to get a broker
19/03/2015 6:36 AM
rodywc May I know how to get a broker in trading US stocks?
23/08/2015 5:09 AM
3EMWE can short sell some more great
07/12/2015 9:51 AM
yippsanguine Post removed. Why?
03/07/2016 10:36 PM
KC Goh any broker to recommend for the US market?
23/11/2016 2:58 AM
ikan bilis recommend thinkorswim ( under TDAmeritradeasia.com) - starting funding USD 2500 . OR Interactivebroker starting at 10K USD with cheaper brokerage. , need any further info can let me know if you really interested . ( i am currently full time trader on US market. ( only if u are really keen n passionate in trading in US market n would like to spend time & effort to learn further. ) otherwise dont contact me, becos to trade in US, u need good n persistant n discipline in your learning spirit . if not stay where u are now. be safe.
25/11/2016 8:39 AM
KC Goh Ikan Bilis

someone recommend to me sure trader saying that the starting fund is USD 500. Do you know about sure trader?
28/11/2016 5:15 AM
Vendha hi..ikan bilis...im very much interested in trading in US..how to contact u?
29/11/2016 8:27 AM
Ovylim hi,ikan bilis ..currently i m using cimb itrade to trd in us market . . i found it was expensive.. how do i contact u .?
08/12/2016 1:25 AM
sanvinair1 hi guys
19/12/2016 4:31 AM
jason87 hi guys, we have a platform investment on U.S blue chips stock. interested parties pm me. thank you.
08/11/2017 2:32 AM
it2116 Batm
27/05/2018 4:29 AM
Mohd Zukarnan Mat Zin Please guide me
21/02/2019 5:35 PM
FrankValueInvestor Excuse me, I am new here. Jason87, how to pm you? I see no other click that link to you...
10/04/2019 10:38 AM
benztan99 basically an account of less than 5K USD cant do much trading to be frank, unless u trade option small small on ( stocks less than 20bucks) n have to control tight risk as u cant afford to loss.
i am doing sell put ( write secured put) pick only small counter less than 20 prefer $15 but hass to be more than $5 . dont touch less than $5.
10/04/2019 11:23 PM
benztan99 so far in market can open TDAmeritrade.com.sg for asian. for the rest go to tdameritrade.com. superior platform n safe. cheaper brokerage (can nego for lower rate , PM me i teach u how to )
10/04/2019 11:27 PM
Lalis ten percent of what please giving you 100% of the profit ? I do see that you promoting here very risky things which are not exactly suitable for a lot of things anyway. Please do explain that all to myself anyway. I do not get how it's all going with you.
13/07/2019 12:57 PM
Oothein64 Hi, Anyone using Kenanga for US/ Hkg trades ...?
Pls advise on their platform & cost economics....
Grazie!
22/09/2019 12:28 PM
Tygobar Lol at the last message here, yes for sure it's like that anyway totally and completely for example. How do you plan to get going with it no matter what ? I do agree it should be dealt in some way or manner. Obviously do not use any services from that scammers anyway no matter what they say.
26/10/2019 2:31 PM
Denis88 Can somebody please do let me know what is going on here anyway. I am totally and completely lost with all of that. Care to share with me all that stuff or not ? I am entirely not possible to make this happening. I do not really get of what is going on there for whatever reason.
27/10/2019 6:35 AM
benztan99 to invest in US if u are from ASIA basically use below regulated broker ( by the US SEC :
1)TDAMeritrade.com.sg ( its platform is Thinkorswim)
2)futubull (can trade US , HK, China )
3) interactive broker ( IB)
4) fidelity
so far above as i know accepting asia clients and most of their brokerage is FOC for stock trading but small chargers for derivatives
you need to check above urself .
18/11/2021 6:16 AM
Affnan Rakuten Trade has just launch US trade in early 2022 for Malaysian account holder.
13/04/2022 6:23 AM