hi guys, i just noticed this thread. good that ts started this as i was looking for something to begin with, found nothing then. found this only:
usa stocks thread:
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3397675/+380


i recently put some money in us etf's via cimb's itrade which is already mentioned - fees, etc...

in my search for info, i found a few things before i jumped in:

.. us etf's listed on bursa n sgx seem unpopular.
.. buying direct into us via local platforms like itrade may cost a bit more but is viable - real time data is available n reliable.
.. if one is paying 0.42 or 0.35% at bursa, 0.4% for us equities is bearable, provided each transaction is >usd6250, i.e. >usd25 min brokerage.
.. local platforms also offer t+3 for us and sgx like bursa, so u can manage the trades among the bourses.
.. exchange rates - i find itrade's rates reasonable, the spread is about 0.37% e.g. last trading session 3.5035/3.4905.
.. us etf's appear tradeable - the popular ones are always among the highest, spy being the top one almost everyday.

.. yahoo finance offers good info n data, real time. just use email acc, create own portfolio.
http://finance.yahoo.com/
.. etf links:
http://www.barchart.com/etf/vleaders.php
http://money.usnews.com/funds/etfs

i got into spy (s&p500), xle (energy), oih (oilfield services) and qqq (nasdaq/tech).

being new in this, i do not really know what surprises may come except the volatility i noticed. i just thought at this time with rm looking to get weaker and local economy being stressed and tested seriously; us economy looking strong, usd getting stronger; oil prices "near bottom" - ingredients are there to put some money. i may get a rude shock, of course.

to others who have been in it longer, i like to ask:

.. to get lower brokerage fees, are there reputable local outfits dealing in rm-usd? or must go overseas to set up usd acc.?
.. dividends - understand there is 30% tax; for etfs, do they always offer reinvestment for every dividend payout?
.. in the event gomen put capital controls like in 1998, what happens to these etfs held in trust by by local ib nominee?

thanks for sharing. i m sure many more are keen on us etf's at this time.

thanks for response.

tdam or foreign ibs... i suppose one will need to register with them, open trading acc, plus have a usd bank acc ready, right?
do they offer any leverage with cash available or paid up stocks?
where would the nearest popular ib be? in sg, hk?

it is obvious the brokerage is far far less, but how are the exchange rates for tdam and those ib's?
do they use special rates or the common rates used by normal banks? roughly, the spread = 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%?
i suspect the spread may be ok but the bank fund transfer fees may be the killer - can u comment?

as i write, usd= rm3.51... again....

thanks much!

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Jan 2 2015, 11:09 AM

ok, thanks for info. appreciate it.

cimb itrade.

hi guys,

i am planning to open an account with IB for us equities trading purposes. so far, i read from the website:

.. initial deposit usd10k
.. usd1 per trade
.. usd10 min per month if no trades

before i go further, i thought will be good if you guys can point me in the most straightforward direction to get going. can you assist:

.. malaysian resident, with rm in local bank

.. open account online? any documents required?
.. how do i transfer money in/out of IB account with my local bank - ibg, 3rd party?
.. does each transfer require notification any body, e.g. bnm?
.. from where is exchange rate determined at any day or time?
.. how long from registration to acc active?
.. trading - is it always usd1 per buy or sell, any contra period (no payment used)?
.. how many days for gain/loss to become due?
.. any leverage? or zero, i.e. can buy only up to what is in cash deposit?
.. what is minimum shares buy/sell allowed - as per counter boardlot size?

thanks.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Apr 24 2015, 03:05 PM

thanks much, appr it.

will get going soon!

about this...

if i want to move funds out of IB back to my local bank acc, is that easy enough? takes about 24 hrs too? need some swift no., right?

the exchange rate should then be determined by IB's bank, right? usually standard?

thanks again.

i think this means IB will take instructions to TT the amt requested in USD. The local bank will then convert to RM at prevailing rate on that day.

hmm... that means for frequent intraday trading, will need >usd25k as deposit.

once or max twice a week, 10k shuld be ok, i suppose...?

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Apr 25 2015, 05:12 PM

thanks.

alright, that's assuring hearing from you.

10k it is!

i haven't even opened the acc!

next week!

bloomberg now showing usd/rm 3.6132.
last week 3.55-3.56 wud be nice!
i m late too!

almost there.

what u got, 3.51 usd->myr, is about right on fri.

maybe mbb spread a little worse but when i checked cimb on thu, i was told 3.53.

3.6132 myr->usd is probably a derived rate at this time since rm is not traded during the holidays.
http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currencies/asia-pacific/

This post has been edited by AVFAN: May 2 2015, 10:24 PM

i actually bought some usd for stocks payment on thu 30/4.
but it was by phone to the broker in cimb, estimated 3.533/3.545 in the morning.
i have yet to see the actual becos of the holidays.

stocks for keeping... yeah, good idea to share.

since this is ETF thread, i'll start the ball rolling.

i have a bit of these most/more liquid US ETF's:

SPY (S&P500)
XLV (healthcare)
QQQ (tech)
OIH (oil services)

3.55-3.60 is probably a fair rate to deposit, imo.
now, usd relatively weak with rising oil price->stronger rm.
but i can't see oil price rising much more so soon.
and we never know if usd will strengthen bigtime soon->oil price drop->weaker rm!

like i just mentioned, will know actual for 28/4 purchase only next tue due to holidays. estimated 3.545.

will be buying again next week to commence with IB, yet to see...

Yes, you will know if tt to foreign brokers. Cash first, then u buy stocks.

I was refering to paying up something at local brokerage. Some local brokers allow t+3.
Not sure if all of them offer it, but there is a possibility to choose rate at stocks buy date or t+3.
For later, it is not known immediately, only estimates, need to wait for update from back office.
Local brokerage offers this advantage but big disadvantage is much higher brokerage fees.

That is why I am going IB as well. More for trading since low brokerage fees.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: May 3 2015, 12:54 PM

thanks to you and rjb, my ib account has just turned active.

wired at 10.30am, ib email acknowledgement at 3pm.

rate at cimb was 3.6310.

kinda high to me since cash rate and normal rate should be about 3.61 today.

tt rates always higher?

so, it means if i had tt'ed today at mbb, it may have been 3.650 then!

i will check this up when the next opportunity arrives.

happy to say i completed my maiden trade on IB, had a tiny profit.

anyone looking for USD stocks investment or trading, i will suggest Interactive Brokers (IB).
https://www.interactivebrokers.com.hk/en/home.php