The Asian stock market is a very attractive trading area for many traders. It contains a large portion of the world’s population and is full of economic potential.
The Asian markets, including the ‘Asian Tigers’ of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, are less sensitive to demand in mainland China and the US, which makes them an attractive trading opportunity.
How to trade in the Asian financial markets
Asian markets are incredibly diverse, and the most successful investors understand that. They take the time to learn the rules of the game in each region and find out what works best for them. This can be especially important in emerging and frontier markets. These are countries with growing economies, and their stocks are less correlated to the performance of global markets.
Traders can access Asian stock markets through exchange-traded funds, or directly via international brokers such as Interactive Brokers. Additionally, many Asian companies have American Depository Receipts (ADRs) listed in New York or London, so that they can be traded by investors outside the country of origin. These investments provide a broader range of opportunities for traders and can help diversify their portfolios.
In addition, Asian markets can be volatile and should be monitored closely by traders. This includes following the major indicators that influence growth, including economic data and inflation. Traders should also consider the currency market since Asia is a key exporter of goods.
Stock indices
Stock indices are statistical representations of market data and help investors keep track of the current trends. They segregate stocks by a variety of factors, such as country, business size, industry, dividend portion, and more. This helps investors analyze the performance of their portfolios and make informed decisions.
The value of an index is determined by the prices of its constituent stocks. When the prices of these stocks rise, the index as a whole also rises. The inverse is true when the prices of these stocks fall.
Asian equities grind higher, tracking Wall Street gains, as traders eye China trade news and hope for US debt ceiling extension. Moreover, they also benefit from easing hawkish RBA bets and upbeat NZ budget.
Trading on the Asian stock exchanges
Asian stock markets are becoming increasingly attractive for traders and investors around the world. These include China of course, currently the second largest economic power in the world, as well as developed countries like Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Moreover, the Indonesian market may eventually become Southeast Asia’s biggest. But right now, it remains difficult to trade as a foreign investor. It is not uncommon for brokerages to reject applications from US citizens for accounts in their local offices, especially in emerging markets.
Another popular way to trade Asian stocks is through a CFD broker such as IG or eToro. This is only recommended if you are looking to speculate and gain from price movements without actually owning the underlying asset. Trading in these Asian stocks can also be done via exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These are mutual fund vehicles that provide exposure to specific regions or markets, thus simplifying your investment strategy and potentially reducing your risk.
Investing in the Asian stock market
Although there are many Asian stock market ETFs available, these often come with high management fees – sometimes up to 1% annually. In addition, they aren’t as flexible as trading directly on the stock exchanges themselves.
While mainland China and Hong Kong’s stock markets are strongly linked to one another, there are major differences between them. For example, the Shanghai stock market is dominated by household appliance makers that are listed there and in Shenzhen, while Hong Kong’s is dominated by tech start-ups.
Similarly, the Korea Exchange is dominated by hardware companies such as Samsung and SK Hynix while Japan’s is dominated by large banks. India’s Sensex index represents an entirely different kind of company.
Opening a brokerage account in Singapore or Hong Kong allows you to trade stocks on all of Asia’s developed market exchanges as well as several emerging markets that are difficult to access from outside the region. You can also open a brokerage account remotely in Vietnam or the Philippines to gain access to Southeast Asia’s frontier market exchanges, which offer high growth potential and attractive valuations.
