An Overview
Indian investors had excellent reason to shun international stocks up until recently since, out of the 40 major stock markets in the world, India generated the highest return between 2003 and 2018. The difficulty and cost of gaining access to world market investing further discouraged them. But things are changing. During the pandemic, foreign markets discovered new winners in sectors without close Indian counterparts, and Indian investors started expressing interest in new, easier ways to diversify their portfolios internationally, such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Index-based investing has experienced substantial development in other international markets by providing low-cost diversification alternatives, and 2020 brought India up to speed with the first fund tracking the S&P 500, which is perhaps the most well-known equities benchmark in the world.
Over decades, if not centuries, countries create leadership and acquire reliance on (and distinctions from) other markets. The S&P BSE SENSEX, the longest-running indicator of the Indian market, was introduced in 1986 and provided the potential for long-term comparisons. Its pro forma price history dates back to April 1979. The S&P 500 debuted in 1957 in its present format.
These two prominent benchmarks have a combined history of nearly 40 years, and they are textbook illustrations of the potential advantages of diversification and equity investment. An extra so-called “rebalance return” results from trading over time to maintain weights in their intended proportions, which is highly positive in this case.
US Market Has Long History Of Outperformance
Since it has outperformed all other investment forms throughout the past century, including financial instruments, real estate and commodities, the US stock market has long been regarded as the source of the highest returns for investors.
The historical period in which returns are examined determines whether stocks are the best investment. Individual investors’ investment horizons have a role in where they decide to place their money to get the best results. Shorter investing time periods include more risk since stock values are more volatile.
Which Are The Top Indices In The US?
The US stock market is the biggest venue for various global giants to obtain funds. It is home to some of the top blue-chip companies and has a bright future in the post-pandemic atmosphere. Additionally, there are other ways for individual investors to profit from the thriving US stock market and its burgeoning economy.
Various stock market indexes exist in the US market, allowing investors to participate in developing some of the top corporations. To begin with, it’s crucial to monitor and follow the leading US indices to take advantage of possibilities. If you wish to invest in US stocks from India, keep an eye on these leading US indices:
- NASDAQ-100 Index (NDX): Since its creation in 1985, the NASDAQ-100 has included 101 of the biggest domestic and foreign non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market based on market capitalization. It is a large-cap growth index. In addition, the NASDAQ-100 index includes some of the most forward-thinking businesses in the world, such as Microsoft, Intel, Apple, Google, Starbucks, and Tesla. The NASDAQ-100 gives investors access to some of the top firms in the world via more than 7,000 products connected to this index, including ETFs, Options, and Futures.
- Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI): One of the most popular indices is Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), sometimes known as the Dow 30. The index includes the top 30 blue-chip corporations; however, Dow 30 exclusively includes US-based businesses, unlike several leading indices. Except for transportation and utilities, the Dow 30 index, a component of the S&P Dow Jones Indices, has diversified exposure to many economic sectors. They are included in the Dow Jones Transportation Average index and Dow Jones Utility Average index, and the Dow Jones Composite Average index comprises the three.
- S&P 500 index: One of the several S&P Dow Jones Indices, the S&P 500 is renowned as the ideal single indicator of large-cap US equities. The S&P 500 Index, the country’s first market-cap-weighted stock market index, was established in 1957 and is still among the oldest, having a more than 70-year track record. The S&P 500 Index contains almost 500 top corporations from around 11 different industries, accounting for about 80% of the market value of US stock exchanges. Information technology, health care, and communication services make up the top three industries in the S&P 500, accounting for nearly 50% of the index.
- NASDAQ Composite Index: More than most other stock market indices, the NASDAQ Composite Index Includes more than 2,000 companies. Since its establishment in 1971, the Composite has been one of the most frequently observed and quoted leading market indices due to its wide-ranging nature. Common stocks, ordinary shares, ADRs, shares of benefit interests or limited partnership interests, as well as tracking stocks, are among the instruments that may be traded on the NASDAQ index.
- RUSSEL 2000 index: The Russell 2000 Index is for you if you want to cash in on small-cap company growth in a significant way. It serves as a gauge of the small-cap sector’s performance on the US stock market. Nearly 2000 of the smallest firms are included on the Russell 2000 Index, as determined by their market capitalization and current index membership. A subset of the Russell 3000 Index, the Russell 2000 Index accounts for over 10% of the Russell 3000 Index’s overall market capitalization.
Things To Keep In Mind
- Taxes collected at source (TCS): A tax on foreign exchange transactions was instituted by the Union Budget 2020. Under the RBI’s Liberalized Remittance Scheme, all remittances above 7 lakh would be subject to a 5% tax collected at source (TCS).
- Estate Tax: As Indians, we are not used to this, but in the US, the heirs must pay an assets tax on the dead person’s estate, which may be as high as 55%. Investments in US assets may result in an estate tax. Therefore, when your stocks and other capital market assets are handed down as inheritance in the US, they are liable to estate tax. The best course of action for an Indian is to get term insurance to meet this tax obligation.
Easy Ways To Invest In US Stocks From India
Here are your alternatives if you’re wondering how to invest in US stocks from India. You may invest using the best stock market investment apps in India like Stockal, which makes investing in US stocks incredibly straightforward. Additionally, you may create an account with any domestic brokerage firm to engage in foreign trading. Residents of India could consider opening trading accounts with a foreign stockbroking company.
Exchange Traded Funds are another way for Indian investors to invest in US stocks from India. ETFs are collections of several stocks and bonds that trade as one fund. For example, Tesla, Netflix, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon are some of the equities that are often traded on Stockal, one of India’s best stock market investment apps.