How to buy shares in Asian Markets?

john269

Hi,

I'm from the UK and was wondering if there were any share dealing accounts where you can trade in shares just like you can in the UK shares, but with the components / shares on the Hang Seng indices's?

It's just that I am trading shares on the UK markets, but the Hang Seng and some other Asian markets are more appetizing due to the fast growth rate out there at the moment.

Thanks!

wombat42_2

john269 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm from the UK and was wondering if there were any share dealing accounts where you can trade in shares just like you can in the UK shares, but with the components / shares on the Hang Seng indices's?

It's just that I am trading shares on the UK markets, but the Hang Seng and some other Asian markets are more appetizing due to the fast growth rate out there at the moment.

Thanks!

You need to invest in an Asian or China unit trust such as Gartmore China Opportunities.

gt94sss2

Yes - you can use a stockbroker like TD Waterhouse to buy shares directly in Hong Kong.

Other companies, like HSBC may allow you to open a 'local' stockbroking account directly in Hong Kong if you wanted.

Regards
Sunil

egamar

Of the two suggestions I suggest wombat42 makes the least risky one. Buy funds denominated in £ and you reduce the currency risk (even if the underlying assets are valued in other currencies).

gt94sss2's suggestion answers your question, but boy does it seem the risky route to me: experts only (or gamblers) for this one, I think!

There are lots of funds/uts etc which offer exposure to the Far East, I've had a number of them over the past 5 years and they've all done well: the crash is yet to come! But i guess these are no so much for trading as they are for holding.

If you're a dedicated risk-junkie trader then gt94sss2 has given you your answer!

gt94sss2

egamar wrote: »

Of the two suggestions I suggest wombat42 makes the least risky one. Buy funds denominated in £ and you reduce the currency risk (even if the underlying assets are valued in other currencies).

Buying assets overseas introduces currency risk - it makes no difference if that is via a fund or an individual share.

gt94sss2's suggestion answers your question, but boy does it seem the risky route to me: experts only (or gamblers) for this one, I think!

There is no real difference to buying individual shares in the UK or abroad - the principles are the same.

Just as buying a UK fund or a fund investing overseas are the 'same' as such.

You may be overestimating the risk of buying individual shares and overestimating the the 'safety' of buying a fund - which is after all just a collection of shares..

Regards
Sunil

purch

How to buy shares in Asian Markets?

..........with your fingers crossed ?? :eek:

Buying assets overseas introduces currency risk - it makes no difference if that is via a fund or an individual share

....except in the fact that it is easier for a Fund Manager with a larger portfolio to hedge some or all of that currency risk

If you buy directly into these markets there are many ways you can hedge your risks, in fact holding stock directly rather than through a fund can make it easier to judge your own particular risks and thus easier to hedge them when required

When you hold units in a fund it is not easy to know exactly what holdings you have, or what the fund manager is doing. If you hold stocks yourself you know exactly what your risks are, and thus manage them.

egamar

gt94sss2 wrote: »

You may be overestimating the risk of buying individual shares and overestimating the the 'safety' of buying a fund - which is after all just a collection of shares..

I've just updated my profile with the words "Risk Averse"!

Everything you say is pretty much right, but I would observe that because a fund IS (as you say) a collection of shares (or other instruments like bonds, cash etc) then the risk is spread, which in my book means less risky than a single share. But potentially less rewarding too. Risk vs. reward, eh?

globevestor

Try Interactive Brokers which allows you to buy shares listed in HK.