How to Buy Stocks Online: Shares, SPACs and Foreign Stocks, Then Track Them Live in Excel
How to buy stocks online, starting with the basic steps: investing vs trading, stocks vs CFDs, SPACs, and buying Chinese, European and Canadian stocks, then tracking what you own live in Excel.
- 1Investing 101: Basic Steps on How to Buy Stocks Online
To buy stocks online: open an account with a broker, choose common or preferred shares, decide how many shares to buy, and place a market or limit order.
- 2Investing vs Trading
Investing vs trading: investing holds assets for years to build wealth; trading buys and sells over days or weeks to profit from price moves, with more risk.
- 3Stock vs Stock CFDs: Which One Should You Trade?
Stocks vs stock CFDs: buying a stock gives you ownership; a CFD is a leveraged contract with a broker on the price change. Compare shorting, leverage, costs and risks.
- 4Investing in Special-Purpose Acquisition Company (SPACs)
A SPAC is a shell company that raises money in an IPO, holds it in trust, and then merges with a private company. How SPACs work, their structure, and the risks.
- 5Investing in Chinese Stocks
US investors can buy Chinese stocks three ways: US-listed ADRs such as BABA and JD, China-focused ETFs, or a brokerage with access to Hong Kong and mainland exchanges. How each works and the main risks.
- 6Investing in European Stocks
Ways for US investors to buy European stocks: ADRs, GDRs, ETFs, mutual funds and direct foreign accounts, plus notable names, ETFs and currency risk.
- 7Investing in Canadian Stocks & ETFs
Three ways for US investors to buy Canadian stocks: interlisted shares on US exchanges, Canada ETFs such as EWC, and direct TSX purchases. Data as of 2021.