TAKE YOUR SHARE OF THE PROFITS WITH US EQUITIES

It is time for the enterprising Jamaican investor to become a global investor.

While many stock exchanges and publicly traded companies internationally took a hit from the pandemic, the United States stock market continued to record gains, particularly in ecommerce and cloud computing sectors.

The S&P 500, a stock market index that measures the stock performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States, gained more than 16 per cent in 2020. The Dow Jones industrial average and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 7.25 per cent and 43.6 per cent, respectively. The Dow and S&P 500 finished at record levels despite the public health and economic crises.

Last year also saw major US companies such as Google, Facebook, Zoom and Apple, performing exceptionally well. Companies such as Airbnb, DoorDash and Wish also successfully raised capital via IPO to advance their businesses throughout the year.

Recognising the opportunity for meaningful investment in that market, Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Limited has made it easier for local investors to take advantage of these gains, through a partnership with Interactive Brokers (IB), a leading online trading platform, which allows direct global access to US equities.

Interactive Brokers is a US entity that has been in operation since 1977 and has offered US equities and trading platform solutions since 1995.

Persons interested in purchasing US equities will be onboarded to the platform by a VM Wealth Management Client Relation Officer, where they will be provided with a link and login information to then commence funding their accounts and independently trading in shares.

The public can invest a minimum of US$2,000 using the platform.

Taking the time to understand the US market and the performances of US companies, many of which are popular companies utilized here in Jamaica, can prove to be significantly beneficial to local investors. The VM Wealth Management team will provide access to research and expert guidance to help you in your investment journey.

Here are some reasons you should consider investing in the US Stock Exchange:

• Investing in US equities provides a foreign exchange hedge against the Jamaican dollar, as well as a hedge against inflation.
• You have the opportunity to grow your investment at a faster pace for the long-term.
• You can receive a steady income by investment in dividend paying stocks.
• US stocks provide diversification in your investment portfolio.
• You are already using products and services from these companies. Now you have the opportunity to be an owner of the company.