Investing in overseas listed co. shares

Hi all,

Been trying to look for good company to invest in SGX lately (seem difficult to find one or either that I have not search hard enough), starting to have thought about investing overseas company listed in HK and US exchange, but bearing the cost of holding and foreign currency risk, is it really worth investing overseas?

Appreciate if someone can any share his/her experience or view in investing and holding overseas listed co. shares.

Thanks

I think it's hard to value analyse overseas companies when your personal environment and sources of information are dominated in Singapore. I have tended to use fund managers and some of those have been good. Am avoiding the etf debate here.

I also bought a M'sian stock via POEMS and held it over the last bear run. Charged me a holding fee monthly. About $2/mth i think.

You can visit your public library and read the monthly finance magazines for HK , US ,UK and OZ markets to identity their recommendations . Best library in Hong Kong is the Central Library in Causeway Bay which has many daily newspapers and monthly magazines "in English" from most cities around the world.
If I come to Singapore , where is the best library located for reading finance magazines ?

After you have identified a target company with investment promise, check the target company website and download the last annual and interim report.

soros Wrote:If I come to Singapore , where is the best library located for reading finance magazines ?

The National Library in Bras Basah has a good selection of newspapers from all over the world. I believe the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times should be available too.

(28-01-2011, 11:52 AM)brt77 Wrote: Hi all,

Been trying to look for good company to invest in SGX lately (seem difficult to find one or either that I have not search hard enough), starting to have thought about investing overseas company listed in HK and US exchange, but bearing the cost of holding and foreign currency risk, is it really worth investing overseas?

Appreciate if someone can any share his/her experience or view in investing and holding overseas listed co. shares.

Thanks

I recent read that trading in US share market can present problems for older investors based overseas due possibilty of the investment account being caught in the "Estate Tax" net if the investor dies; and broker's account is frozen and the executors having to pay US estate duty.

Don't know if this is true but best way to avoid this problem is to check out the tax laws before you start to buy US shares or else buy through a company.

Tks soros, in Singapore, if we are buy overseas shares thru the local brokerage firm, the shares will be held under the company name (brokerage firm). In that case, I guess we will not be subjected to estate tax. Fellow forumers correct me if I m wrong.

(09-03-2011, 06:55 PM)brt77 Wrote: Tks soros, in Singapore, if we are buy overseas shares thru the local brokerage firm, the shares will be held under the company name (brokerage firm). In that case, I guess we will not be subjected to estate tax. Fellow forumers correct me if I m wrong.

And is the local broker firm in Singapore part of a US Group ? ? ?

(09-03-2011, 06:55 PM)brt77 Wrote: Tks soros, in Singapore, if we are buy overseas shares thru the local brokerage firm, the shares will be held under the company name (brokerage firm). In that case, I guess we will not be subjected to estate tax. Fellow forumers correct me if I m wrong.

This would be the biggest loophole for US citizen if this is true. I seriously doubt it. As I understand it you need to submit a non-US resident form to qualify for exmeption of US withholding tax. Your brokerage firm would require you to do so. I know dbsonline does.
estate duty is another category altogether. I think you all are referring to capital gains tax. Again non US resident do not have to pay provided you submit the form.

(10-03-2011, 10:56 AM)soros Wrote:

(09-03-2011, 06:55 PM)brt77 Wrote: Tks soros, in Singapore, if we are buy overseas shares thru the local brokerage firm, the shares will be held under the company name (brokerage firm). In that case, I guess we will not be subjected to estate tax. Fellow forumers correct me if I m wrong.

And is the local broker firm in Singapore part of a US Group ? ? ?

No. For e.g. if using broker firm DBS Vickers , the shares will be held under the name DBS nominees.