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In recent years, the United States has experienced a period of high and steady growth. A few years ago, many analysts estimated that the US economy was on the brink of recession – a prediction that was not finally verified.
Investment movements in markets around the world involve some difficulties. The first ones that one identifies are related to the cost, the foreign exchange risks, but also the difficulty that exists in the level of information regarding foreign companies. One place where you can find all the information you need and have fun at the same time is an online casino. You can be reassured that NetBet is there for you to guide you to the exciting world of playing online games with safety. That’s why it offers demos, and you can play when you feel confident enough.
Step One: The Purchases
Before we look at the broader US market, let’s take a quick look at US stock markets. There are eight major stock markets on the other side of the Atlantic, although British investors, like most investors outside the United States, deal with two: the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. In any case, what counts is not in which stock market, a company’s stock is traded, but if it is a good investment.
The New York Stock Exchange
The most famous stock exchange is the New York Stock Exchange, which started operating in 1792 and is the largest stock market in the world. It includes more than 3,000 US companies with certain criteria. The shares of these companies are traded through American Depository Receipts (ADRs). These are certificates issued by American banks that represent a certain number of foreign shares traded on the US stock exchange. These certificates are denominated in US dollars and are sold in the same way as US stocks are traded. ADRs are making it easier to invest in foreign equities. The NYSE Key Index shows precisely what is happening in that market, calculating the average price of all common stock listed and traded, and is updated electronically after each transaction.
The Nasdaq
The Nasdaq is the world’s first electronic stock market and includes shares in more than 5,000 companies. It started operating in 1971, while the procedures for import cases began two years later. In 1998 it merged with the largest and most forgotten American Exchange (AMEX). The “dynamic” Nasdaq stock market is divided into two different sectors: the Nasdaq National Market and the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The first sector includes large and active shares of companies, while the second consists of the equity securities of emerging companies and contains less stringent entry criteria. Nasdaq trades more non-US stocks than the NYSE. About 30% of the shares of foreign companies traded on the Nasdaq are European
Step Two: How to Invest
Having a first look at the North American stock markets, the next step in this section shows how investors can participate in them.
Buying directly from the US
Buying shares of US companies, directly from US stock exchanges, may be the most dangerous way for investors to become part of this community, especially in the case of micro-shareholders. The interested party will have to carry out his own research, make his own decisions regarding when to buy and when to sell, but also deal with exchange rate differences, as well as tax issues.
The condition of contractual investment and the necessary foresight suggests that one should not invest in international markets unless one has already acquired an excellent knowledge of one’s own market. It is also risky for small investors to get involved directly with a narrow stock portfolio.
Trading costs may be higher, especially if one invests in US securities through a foreign country’s stockbrokers. The stockbroker has to find a partner in the US from whom to buy the shares. Also, there are supervision fees for shares held at the World Bank, as well as for dividends to be collected.
Most US companies have converted their shares into intangibles, and as a result, shareholders do not get certificates in their hands. The details of the registration will be kept by a stockbroker, which will be confirmed by a relevant contract. Of course, you can also buy a certificate if you wish, but this will make it difficult to resell the shares. This is because US markets are highly liquid, and a new investor must delete your name from the certificate once they have purchased the shares from you.
Finding a stockbroker
Many traditional stockbrokers accept orders for US stocks, but the charges are higher.If one wants to become an active investor, the best thing to do is to open an account with a stockbroker online. He will of course, have to investigate the relevant charges. Still, his final decision should not be based solely on the cost factor even though there are many things to think of like whether a minimum payment is required to open an account, whether the broker charges extra for telephone calls, and details regarding the quality of the charges, in terms of graphs, information, analysis, and research. One of the enhanced services offered by the new Independent Deposit Accounts is that they enable investors to hold international equity securities. In particular, they allow investors to choose the stocks and funds of their choice, holding them under a tax-free “umbrella”.
Step Three: Conducting the survey
Extensive research is especially important before one can proceed with the placement of one’s capital. Evaluating the fundamentals of a company is not a particularly difficult task, in case one knows where to look and get all the necessary information. Still, many investors are positioned simply based on their intuition and then wonder why they lost all their capital.
Sources of information for American companies
A good starting point is the stockbroker’s website that anyone may have chosen. Investors can access EDGAR study directly from the internet and, at the same time, obtain stock market news and investment guides, which include analyses and forecasts for companies’ profitability.
At Ameritrade, investors can create their own market research using existing research and information. The website offers free analysis and reviews for more than 10,000 companies from the Market Guide. Quantitative research, earnings forecasts, and fundamentals are also available at briefing.com, while Zacks at zacks.com offers real-time market prices and blueprints. Charts can help investors come up with a list of stocks they are interested in.
