International Investing

More Americans are investing in foreign companies than ever before. More than 950 foreign companies are registered and file reports with the SEC, and many more are unregistered and trade in the over-the-counter market. Investors also can purchase stock directly on foreign markets.

The SEC's website has lists of registered foreign companies organized by country or by company name. To learn more about the rules that apply to non-US issuers, you may wish to read International Reporting and Disclosure Issues, an outline prepared by the staff of the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance.

For more information on the basics of international investing, including the risks of investing internationally and how to get more information about foreign companies and markets, please read International Investing: Get the Facts.