Crap! Damn MMs. Got stop out of my AAPL at 550. Oh well, at least got profits.
Let see if 540 can hold or not.

If you don't trade a lot, imo that conversion rate seems fair but how much do they charge for actual commissions (when you actually BUY and SELL the US stocks itself)?

Using direct US broker, I pay as low as $1 for commissions each 100 units of stock that I trade.

0.42% a min of 6K per trade?
So, you can't trade any US stocks if the total value is less than US6000?
It sounds crazy.

MBtrading is the one that I'm using for low volume stocks because their per share cost is 0.0075.
If you buy 100 shrs of X, you're charge $1. If you buy 500 shrs of X, you're charged $5.

Oh.. once that 538 is broken, then it's going to be all out shorts.
Watching this line here.

I think 545 is going to hold tonight since it is expiration Friday. Next week , who knows..

If you ask around, almost none of the US based broker charges commissions by the value of the stocks.
This is ABSOLUTELY nuts. Perhaps only greedy type of broker that virtually has no competition would do that.

TD Ameritrade for example charges flat rate of $9.99 for ANY size.
Say, I buy 100,000 shares of a stock per trade, it is still 9.99 for commissions.

There are also quite a few commissions free ETFs offered by US brokers nowadays. Go check 'em out.

If you think about this carefully, you will know it isn't worth your time and money to keep buying US stocks in MYR (Ringgit) terms. It makes no sense to give the money (the spread between the BUY/SELL exchange rate) to the bank and furthermore, your trade ($35/trade) is VERY high. For that fee, it is as if you call your human broker to trade by telephone instead of you doing the trade via computer. Are you talking to a human being that offer you better service? If not, why are you paying that rate if everyone else trading US stocks and paying less than $10 per trade?

So, just keep your money in US brokerage account and let it continue to grow until you earn enough. No need to withdraw until you really need it.

I got more liquid cash in USD than in Ringgit. Last year, I was thinking USD may go down because Fed printing money.. hoping I can convert more to it cheaper, but heck, my pile of USD appreciated even more than Ringgit after the tapering fear, and the Ringgit got weaker..

This post has been edited by danmooncake: Jan 4 2014, 07:54 AM

I nimbled here and immediately sold some cover calls for next week. Let see how it goes.

I'm giving you a hint already. I did say MB Trading didn't I?
Go there and check out their application. You will need to declare yourself as non-resident alien using form W-8BEN.
Your capital gain won't be taxed but dividends will be withheld.

AAPL fell thru 50ma (540) when it opens.
Got some short side of AAPL to play along with the long side/covered calls tonight.
Covering at 535 to scalp $5.

Darn machines..

Uncle Ben/Aunt Yellen machines won't stop yet, may slow down but ain't stopping so far and
we won't see interest rate increase probably till end of 2015.

China - still facing uncertainty and choppy. Market is telling us something.
Euro - recovering slowly (certainly still a bargain).

Tonight, Chinese ETF (FTSE 25 Xinhua) is pulling back big.. if falls thru 200ma, it can spell trouble.

Took a short position in TWTR..

Phew! Lucky covered 535. 50ma support is here. Saved my butt.
I'll keep the long side with covered calls to play and let see how it plays out by end of this week.

Anyway, took a small position in FB at 54.50. I like it here at the middle of the band.

That's too bad. They must have remove Malaysia last year or something. I knew for a fact they did
allow Malaysia citizens/resident to join. A few of us may already have accounts there before they remove the requirements.

Anyway, try TD Ameritrade (9.99/trade). Love its trading tool: ThinkorSwim (the best one I've seen).

I took a little profit for FB, I wait for more breakthru at 59 before adding or pull back.
59 seems to be resistance.

DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) stocks are mostly available for DOW component stocks. eg. XOM, CVX, CSCO, JPM, BA, etc

But, you need to know the US IRS treats dividends as earned income - whether it is pay in cash or in stocks.
You may need to pay upfront (up to 30%) for any earned income since you're non-resident alien (for tax purpose).
Therefore, I believe it is better to go for growth stocks for capital gain than dividends if you're non-resident.
Please do research carefully before setup a DRIP plan with your broker otherwise you'll end up a negative surprise at dividend payout time.

It depends on the broker when they need a ITIN number or not. Most of them do not if they allow foreign traders as long you file W8BEN form.

But, if you wish to collect dividends and want to file for refunds later with US IRS, you will need an ITIN number if you do not have US SSN number.

Closed out short here at 58. I can't believe TWTR is making me more money than AAPL now.

It could flush there easily once that thin ice cracks (that 50ma line).
Sold the 552.50 calls to make some money. Let see how it turns out by Friday.

I expect bad news... (as in less than expected).
I think the market is due for a short term correction.

I'm seeing buying are slowing. Very tight range now for SP500.

Are u ready with some cash at sidelines?

The UE number is 6.7% now (getting closer to 6.5%) but the growth number is only 67k (that's really weak).
The economists now blame the weather and saying now this number is not reliable.