For geographical diversification and for future planning,.. I would still venture into the ASX,... on my side,... I still have faith in the Aussie Dollar.

I would always buy directly into the mkt, rather than going via 'representative brokerages' like Stanchart Sgp. Hence, Aus is still close enough for me to access if need be.

If you have send in the W BEN8 forms to declare that you are not a US citizen, etc, you should not be subjected to US taxes due to the tax treaty with Malaysia.


https://www.irs.gov/individuals/internation...rs/tax-treaties


https://www.irs.gov/individuals/internation...x-treaty-tables


http://www.knowthymoney.com/2011/07/how-to...-malaysian.html


My MIS....Malaysia does NOT have a tax treaty with US, therefore the W BEN8 declaration form.

This post has been edited by prophetjul: Feb 7 2017, 11:24 AM

Not expert at all, boss....

My and Aus have tax treaty. I think if you want to claim the tax, you can save 15%. But I am not sure about this, or how to do it.

For your case, there is a better possible option. You can research on this option. As you have a child studying there, and if he is >18 years old, he can register a Tax File Number (TFN). As student with visa is a tax-resident, you may be able to use his name to open a trading account. Like Commsec or nabtrade. If the dividend income + wages (if he works part time there) is <$18.2k pa, it is within the zero tax threshold and you may be able to claim back 100% of the franking credit. In that way, you will get 100% returns from declared dividend instead of getting 30% taxed

Here is a link to the brokerage https://www.finder.com.au/cheap-stock-brokerage-in-australia. Can ask your son to ask the brokerage. If successfully open, you can trade online in malaysia

Getting a TFN is also beneficial for the bank accounts which pays interest. If no TFN, interest get taxed right away at 45%+1.5% medicare levy ! That is really steep.

Yes, except for conduit foreign income no tax for non-tax-resident.

I think it is similar to some of the Reits in malaysia which sometime declare tax free dividend. I don't know how some of the dividend is tax free and some are subject to 10% withholding tax. Never ask since it is to our benefits

Ya, it is a form of diversification. And also hedge against forex fluctuation if you have regular expenses in Australia, or for future planning to send children to study there

RM is really hopeless

But only for those who have children or relatives there !!!!!!!!

Okay,... no need to search too far. Just open at NAB if you wished to have a HIN - Holders Identification Number ! If you wished to use the custodian model of owning shares, use IG Mkts. They call it the Direct Ownership Model.

To attend AGMs without paying a 'custodian', you need to have a HIN !

NAB charges - $14.95 per trade, $5000 and below.

IG Mkts charges - $8.00 per trade.

If anybody managed to open,... I'll give some ctrs to start with,...

Interesting!

Bro, you ARE a blessing!

List of A-Reits :

http://www.asx.com.au/products/etf/managed...roduct-list.htm

Really got to study one by one.

Sifu Hansel,

I alrdy have StanCtd. Waiting tipsi from you.

Morning prince and all,...



To start with, buy some of the following for the experience of the movement of the ctrs (1 hi-yield ctr and 1 A-REIT) and the collection of dividends :-

1) CUP, next dpu payout ard May 15th.. Pays 4x a yr, BUT undergoing restructuring. Hence, be alert. Non-resident yield = 9.5% at today's price.
2) CMW, next dpu payout ard May 11th.. Pays 4x a yr. Non-resident yield = approx 8.0% at today's price.

When the divvy drops into your Stanchart Acct., pls check the amount dropping-in and cmp against the infos released by the companies. Then you will know how much 'short' you may have received, if any. I'm quite sure my calculations are correct !

Remember to inform Stanchart that you wished to receive yr dividends in the AUD, and do not convert into the SGD to be dropped into yr eSavers.

Let us know if you have questions.

Hi Hansel.
Would you care to elaborate on what sort of restructuring here?

Will try to do it from memory,... busy with the SGX today,...

I read that their profits are not very good, but the most recent result was held up because of their investments into a business software company called Class Ltd.. Their CEO also said they are now going through a restructuring, and asked the shareholders to be patient.

But the mgmt has also said that they will maintain the dpu for this yr, ie at 2 Cts per quarter.

Thanks mate.

Prophet is Aussie,...

Involuntary Aussie!

Aussie is 3.413 now!

YES - Aussie has expensive till today,... since Mr Trump won the presidential elections. Possibly because of the big infrastructure plans that Mr Trump has for the USA, which means there will be more resources in the form of metal, etc needed to build. I can't think of any other reasons.

Which only means, there will still be a long way for the AUD to strengthen against the other currencies of the world (besides the USD), particularly the MYR.

CUP does not look healthy in it's trade today.

High volume going lower....already

Today is divvy payout day, the AO and ASX/S&P 200 rose strongly today. I suspect that investors are taking out funds from here to invest into the banking stocks today. CBA reported very good results today. All banks are up today !

The Aussie indices keep going up !

Divs for CUP?