What Works: Reader Questions on Overseas Investing

How liquid are international ETFs, and just how much do you have to put up to buy foreign ordinaries? These are some questions that readers asked in response to my series on online sites and services for international investing. Today I answer some of those questions.

Minimum Investment

David DeKok of Harrisburg, Pa., asks about the minimum investment requirements for trading certain foreign ordinaries (shares issued on local foreign exchanges): "This has always been a frustration for me," he says, explaining that he's tried to buy European and Indian stocks through Charles Schwab. "You never know which ones, until you call and try to buy, [and find out that it] requires a purchase of at least $10,000 worth. ... No one has ever been able to explain to me why some [ordinaries] bear this requirement and others don't, or how to determine which is which without a call."

What Works in Overseas Investing

Getting Started at Trading Foreign Stocks

Schwab Leads Pack for Foreign Stock Trading

Trading International Funds and Baskets of Stocks

The Best Sites for Overseas Investing Information

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