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How to buy international shares in Australia (2024)
Some of the largest businesses are listed overseas, yet many Australians still have a home market bias. Here's how you can buy international shares from Australia.
4 steps to buying international shares from Australia
Compare brokers with access to global stocks.
Open your account by providing an ID.
Fund your account by transferring money from your bank account.
Search and select the shares you want to invest in and start trading.
Investing in the global share market is a lot like investing in the Australian market, but you'll need a broker that offers you the option to invest overseas.
This guide explains what to look for in an international share trading account, how to open one and what to do with the account once you've opened it.
Read on to learn more or start with the basics of share trading if it's new to you. If you already know how to buy international shares, you can simply compare brokers and open an account.
3 ways to access global markets
There are 3 main ways that you can access global shares from Australia.
You can invest directly in shares listed overseas, such as Meta and Apple, by using a broker with an international share trading platform.
The third way Australians can gain international exposure is through contracts for difference (CFDs) that track global shares. (Note: This isn't the same as buying shares directly but instead you are tracking price movements. Investing in CFDs comes with more risk.)
For our top picks, we compared our Finder partners using a proprietary algorithm in August 2022. Keep in mind that our top picks may not always be the best for you. You're encouraged to compare for yourself to find one that works for you. Read our full methodology here to find out more.
Finder survey:
Response
Australia
83.23%
US
29.94%
UK
5.39%
China/Hong Kong
4.79%
Other
4.79%
Canada
3.59%
Europe (EU)
3.59%
Japan
3.59%
NZ
2.99%
Singapore
2.4%
India
1.5%
Africa & Middle East
0.3%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1145 Australians, December 2023
Step 1: Compare brokers with access to global stocks
If you want to buy international shares, you'll need to find the right broker that allows you access to foreign markets.
But before you sign up, it is worth comparing brokers on the following:
Brokerage fees
How much commission does the account charge for the execution of a trade? There may be a flat rate, a percentage rate or even no brokerage fee at all.
Access to markets
Make sure when you are buying international shares that your broker aligns with where you want to buy. This sounds obvious but signing up to a foreign broker won't automatically gain you access to all international markets. The big ones are the US markets like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (Nasdaq), which most providers will allow you to access, but not every account will let you trade everywhere in Europe and Asia.
Speed
How long does it take for a transaction to be executed? Timeliness can be important when buying international shares.
The buffer
How big is the buffer? Most international share trade orders will have a "buffer" applied to them by the share trading platform provider. The buffer is a percentage of the order value that is added to the cost of the order to protect the provider from currency fluctuations while the trade clears, ensuring that they don't lose money on routine trades.
Exchange rates
How much of a cut does your provider take? When converting currencies, the provider may take a cut in the form of a percentage fee on currency converted. Often brokers that charge $0 commission will charge a higher foreign exchange (FX) fee.
Sign-up fees
Does the provider charge any fees for opening an account? The benefits it offers may not always be worth it.
Research tools
What investment research tools are available? Are you seeing real-time market information or is there a delay? Are the research tools free to use or do they cost extra? It's a lot easier to buy low and sell high when you've done your research, rather than relying on luck alone.
Customer service and access
Does your provider have a share trading mobile app or desktop access only? Can you contact the provider outside of business hours? What are your options for getting in touch? Is it known for being helpful or not so much? When you open an international share trading account, you're using a service and you should expect a certain level of customer assistance.
Limits
Do you have to spend more than you want or not as much as you want? One of the main restrictions to look out for when choosing an account is the presence of limits, which may be minimums or maximums that apply. You may not be able to make trades above or below a certain dollar value.
Trade international shares with one of these brokers
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Important: Share trading can be financially risky and the value of your investment can go down as well as up. “Standard brokerage” fee is the cost to trade $1,000 or less of ASX-listed shares and ETFs without any qualifications or special eligibility. If ASX shares aren’t available, the fee shown is for US shares. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Disclaimer: General information only. All forms of investments (and in particular, trading CFDs, commodities and forex) carry significant risk, including the risk of losing more than the invested amounts, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Such activities are not suitable for most investors.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Trading CFDs and forex on leverage is high-risk and you could lose more than your initial investment. It may not be suitable for every investor. Refer to the provider’s PDS and consider the risks before trading.
Step 2: Open your account by providing ID
Once you've decided on an online broker, you can open your share trading account. If you already have a bank account with that provider, then you can usually sign in via its online banking portal. If not, you will have to open a new account.
To open an international share trading account, you'll generally need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
Be 18 or over
Have an Australian residential address
Have a mobile number
As part of the application process, you will typically need to provide the following:
Personal photographic identification (such as your driver's licence, passport and/or proof of age card)
An Australian business number (ABN) and/or tax file number (TFN) if applicable
When opening the account, you'll be asked to choose whether you'll be trading as an individual, with a joint account (for example, with your partner), as a company or organisation or on behalf of a trust, like a self-managed super fund (SMSF). Because share trading has income and tax implications, you must provide details of your income and occupation. Along with your personal information, you may be required to disclose the source of your income and the origin of your financial position.
After you've provided your personal details, you're up to the account set-up stage. This involves providing the details of your linked bank account, setting up financing options if applicable and choosing from the various options that may be available. Once you've confirmed everything and double-checked your details, you're ready to load your cash management account and start trading.
Already have a share trading account?
Sometimes, providers will require that you open an account for local shares and a separate account for international shares. Since you're already signed up to the broker, most of your information will already be saved, meaning buying international shares should be a simpler process.
Did you know: Recent Finder research found that the average share trader could save approximately $1,048 in brokerage fees a year by switching to a more suitable online broker (calculated on 7 trades per month of $1,000). You might even save money by having more than 1 platform, especially if you are investing in Australia as well as internationally.
Step 3: Fund your account by transferring money from your bank account
If you want to start trading right away, you'll need to make sure you have enough funds in your linked account to execute the trades, plus any broker fees that will apply. Remember that when you transfer funds into your linked foreign currency account, you'll usually have to pay a currency conversion fee. It can take a few days for your funds to be loaded into the cash account, so keep this in mind when you decide you'd like to make a trade.
Step 4: Search and select the shares you want to invest in and start trading
Once you've set everything up, you can trade online through your new international share trading account. Expect to see a dashboard with features such as current share prices and changes over time and options to buy, sell or research. With the big banks and other trading accounts geared towards beginners, you may find tutorials and introductory material to help acquaint you with the available features.
Why buy international shares?
Investors are being urged to think globally as some of the largest opportunities are listed abroad.
Many of the household names that you would be familiar with, such as Google, Apple, Tesla, McDonald's, Ford, Unilever and Pfizer, are all foreign-owned and listed overseas despite their prevalence in Australia. All of these businesses are listed on either the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite or the Dow Jones.
International shares go beyond just America – they represent any country outside of Australia.
And while there's no denying the Australian market offers opportunities to investors, it is less than 2% of global trade.
As a smaller market, if you exclusively focus on buying Australian shares, you could increase your exposure to Australian economic factors. For example, if Australia goes into a recession that does not impact the rest of the world, your exposure will be negatively impacted compared to an investor who buys shares in both Australia and in overseas markets.
Despite the massive opportunities overseas, there is still a myth that investing overseas from Australia is more time-consuming and expensive. In fact, it is the complete opposite, with the cheapest brokerage and smaller minimums often being on foreign brokers.
The rest of this guide will help dispel some of these myths and help you buy international shares from Australia.
What's the difference between Australian and international share trading?
When trading shares, you can choose to do it domestically or internationally.
Domestic
The Australian share market is made up of businesses listed on either the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), the National Stock Exchange (NSX) or the Chi-X.
While not every business has to operate in Australia to list here, the majority do. Investors on the ASX trade between 10am and 4pm (Sydney time), Monday to Friday, with Australian investment options overall making up around 2% of the global trade.
International
You can trade shares from global markets around the world 24 hours a day, subject to local market hours. You'll gain access to more options, but you'll also experience new risks and challenges.
International stock exchanges include the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the NYSE, Nasdaq and many others.
Compared to domestic trading, there are both advantages and disadvantages to trading shares internationally.
Pros of buying international shares
Gain access to a wider variety of investment options.
Most of the largest companies in the world trade on foreign markets.
Gain exposure to different economic forces and protect yourself against downturns in the Australian market.
You can trade 24 hours a day rather than only within set business hours in your country.
When trading internationally, there may be a larger pool of investors, so you might find it easier to find a buyer for your shares.
Cons of buying international shares
Exchange rates can fluctuate and can significantly hurt (or help) your return on investment.
Foreign policy can affect your returns. It's possible that changes to another country's foreign policies, local instability or other issues can impact the value of your investment in ways beyond your control. This is a largely uncontrollable risk.
Taxation and related issues may be more complicated when trading international shares.
Added costs including foreign exchange fees and levies.
Making big trades? Look for lower exchange rates, research tools that allow you to make more reliable investments and flat broker fees rather than percentage rates. Where applicable, it may be worth accepting higher flat fees in exchange for lower percentage rates. Avoid low maximum limits that might constrain your trading.
Making a lot of small trades? You may want to avoid flat fees that take a big chunk out of the potential profits of each trade and stick to percentage rates that will cost you less. Low maximums are less of an issue, but high minimums might be a problem.
How will you diversify your portfolio? Not all accounts will give you the same options. Plan what kind of trades you want to make and consider whether a given account will let you trade CFDs, whether you can trade ETFs and if you are able to do forex trading through the same platform.
How stocks work in 60 seconds
Important information: Powered by Finder.com.au. This information is general in nature and is no substitute for professional advice. It does not take into account your personal situation. This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for most investors. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. Capital is at risk, including the risk of losing more than the amount originally put in, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Tax on profits may apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for the product on the provider's website. Consider your own circumstances, including whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and possess the relevant experience and knowledge. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a suitably licensed financial advisor before making any trades.
Cameron Micallef is a utilities writer for Finder. He has previously worked on titles including Smart Property Investment, nestegg and Investor Daily, reporting across superannuation, property and investments. Cameron has a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies/ Commerce from the University of Wollongong. Outside of work Cameron is passionate about all things sports and travel.
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