Indian investment platforms are expanding access to US stocks as local markets underperform, according to CNBC reporting published on 28 October via Binance Square. US stocks are now open to a wider set of Indian retail investors through apps they already use for domestic investing. The shift comes as the Nifty 50 has fallen nearly 13 percent since the start of the year, while the S and P 500 has gained over 12 percent.
Groww is at the centre of the change. Groww accounts for over 29 percent of India’s 46 million active brokerage investors, according to the reporting. It offers access to over 10,000 US stocks and exchange traded funds, plus fractional shares. Fractional shares let an investor buy part of a share, rather than a whole share, which lowers the cash needed to start.
Nvidia, SpaceX and Apple are among the most popular picks among early users of Groww’s new trading feature, the reporting said. Those three names cover chips, space and consumer technology. Early interest is a limited guide, because it reflects the first users of a new feature, not the full investor base. The reporting does not give order values or the number of early users.
US stocks and the Groww rollout
Groww’s rollout of US stocks gives its users a single place for domestic and US investing. The platform already serves a large share of active brokerage investors in India. With over 29 percent of 46 million active investors, its choices affect a large part of the retail market.
Exchange traded funds, known as ETFs, are funds that trade on an exchange like a share. They hold a basket of stocks or other assets, so one purchase can spread money across many companies. Fractional shares work in a similar way for access. They let an investor put a smaller sum into a high priced share, and own a fraction of that share in return.
The popular early picks named in the reporting are Nvidia, SpaceX and Apple. Nvidia makes chips used in AI computing. SpaceX builds rockets and satellite systems. Apple makes phones, computers and services. The reporting does not say how much early users put into each name, and it does not say whether that interest will hold as more users join.
US stocks are also a way for Indian investors to spread their money beyond one market. The Nifty 50 fall of nearly 13 percent since the start of the year, set against a rise of over 12 percent for the S and P 500, is the backdrop in the reporting. That gap does not prove that US markets will keep rising, and it does not prove that Indian markets will keep falling. Past index moves are not a guide to future returns.
US stocks and rival platforms
Zerodha, with a 15 percent share of active clients, is beta testing US stock access, according to the reporting. Beta testing means a limited group of users tries a feature before a wider launch. Zerodha plans to launch in a few weeks, the reporting said. No exact launch date is given in the material reviewed for this article.
Angel One is also reportedly planning to add US stock access. The word reportedly matters here. The reporting says Angel One is planning the service, but it does not give a launch date or a list of stocks for that platform. Readers should treat the Angel One plan as reported, not as a confirmed launch.
The three platforms together cover a large share of India’s active brokerage investors. Groww has over 29 percent, Zerodha has 15 percent, and Angel One is a further large broker. If all three offer US stocks, the service will be open to most retail investors who use an app to trade. The reporting does not give a combined figure for the three platforms.
For investors, the practical questions are about cost, currency and choice. Buying US stocks from India involves converting rupees, paying any platform fees, and holding assets in a foreign market. Fractional shares help with entry cost, but they do not change the risk of the underlying stock. An ETF can spread risk across many stocks, but it can still fall in value.
The CNBC reporting via Binance Square puts the trend in plain terms. Indian platforms are widening access to US stocks. Groww is live with over 10,000 stocks and ETFs and fractional shares. Zerodha is in beta testing and plans a launch in a few weeks. Angel One is reportedly planning its own service. The market backdrop is a Nifty 50 fall of nearly 13 percent since the start of the year, against a rise of over 12 percent for the S and P 500.