Investing in US Stocks: Guide by Country
The US market has returned ~10% annualised over the past century. It houses the world's most innovative technology, healthcare, and consumer companies, with unmatched liquidity and corporate governance standards. Brokers, FX costs, and regulation vary significantly by your home country — select yours below.
Benchmark: S&P 500
Best UCITS ETF: CSPX (UCITS S&P 500 ETF, Ireland-domiciled)
Primary currency: USD
Choose your home country
Indian investors
INR → USD
Converting INR to USD through IBKR costs ~0.1% vs 0.5–1% through Indian bank wire. On ₹8.3 lakh ($10,000), IBKR saves ₹3,500–7,500 vs a standard bank conversion.
UK investors
GBP → USD
Converting GBP to USD via HL costs 1% each way. IBKR charges 0.1%. On a £10,000 investment: HL charges ~£100, IBKR ~£10.
Australian investors
AUD → USD
CommSec International charges 0.6% FX each way. IBKR charges 0.1%. On A$15,000 ($10,000 equivalent), CommSec costs ~A$90, IBKR costs ~A$15.
Singaporean investors
SGD → USD
Tiger Brokers and moomoo offer competitive FX rates for SGD→USD conversions (0.2–0.3%). IBKR remains cheapest at 0.1%. On S$13,500 ($10,000), difference is S$13–27.
UAE-based investors
AED → USD
AED/USD is pegged at 3.67 — there is effectively no currency risk when UAE-based investors buy USD-denominated assets. FX conversion costs are minimal (the peg eliminates rate fluctuation, only the spread matters).
Key risk
USD currency risk vs your home currency; US estate tax for non-US holders of US-domiciled assets