How To Buy US Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide

January 2, 2026

Wondering how to invest in US stocks and don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with a simple guide to buying US stocks and ETFs—with as little as US$1.

Investing in US stocks has long been seen as a gateway to participating in some of the world’s most innovative and influential companies. From household names in technology to leaders in healthcare, finance, and consumer goods, the US market offers investors a chance to diversify their portfolios and tap into global growth trends.

For beginners, however, navigating the US stock market can feel overwhelming — questions about where to start, how to invest, and what drives market performance often stand in the way. This guide breaks down the essentials of buying US stocks — what you’re buying (stocks vs ETFs), how to choose a suitable brokerage, how to plan around US stock exchange trading hours, and how to manage risk so US stock investing remains sustainable over time.

Table of Content

US Stocks Investing: Why It Is Popular (And What You Are Buying)
Recent Performance of US Stocks
How to Buy US Stocks
How to Buy Stocks with Syfe Brokerage
US Stock Exchange Trading Hours: Regular, Pre-market, After-hours
Risk Management: Making US Stocks Investing in Singapore Sustainable
Quick Takeaways
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Resources & Further Reading

US Stocks Investing: Why It Is Popular (And What You Are Buying)

At its core, US stocks investing is about gaining exposure to the world’s most widely followed equity market. Many of the world’s largest and most influential companies list in the US, and the ecosystem of ETFs and market infrastructure makes it easier to build diversified exposure.

Stocks vs ETFs: the beginner-friendly difference

Stocks: When you buy a US stock, you are buying shares of a single company listed on an exchange such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq. Your results depend heavily on that company’s performance.
ETFs: When you buy a US ETF, you buy a fund that holds a basket of assets (sometimes hundreds or thousands) in one product. For beginners, ETFs often reduce single-company risk and simplify diversification.

For many beginners starting US stocks investing, a broad-market ETF can be a practical first step while you learn the mechanics of placing orders, reading statements, and handling currency conversion. To learn more about the differences between stocks and ETFs, you can read our guide here.

Why US equities often appear in long-term portfolios

US equities are commonly used to gain exposure to:

Large, globally diversified businesses (many US-listed firms earn revenue worldwide).
Deep liquidity, especially in large-cap stocks and major ETFs.
Broad index products that support disciplined, long-term investing habits.

A practical “starter structure” (without heavy stock picking)

A simple approach many new investors use:

Core: one diversified US or global equity ETF.
Optional satellite: a small number of individual stocks you genuinely understand.

Unique insight: Keep complexity low early. Many beginner mistakes in US stocks investing are not caused by “choosing the wrong stock.” They are caused by adding too many moving parts too quickly—frequent trading, chasing news in extended hours, or changing strategies every week. A simple structure is easier to maintain through volatility, which matters more than most people expect.

Recent Performance of US Stocks

US stocks climbed higher in recent weeks, supported by expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut at its 16–17 September 2025 meeting and continued enthusiasm around artificial intelligence (AI). Oracle’s strong guidance, boosted by large AI-related deals, helped lift sentiment and underscored tech’s role as a key growth driver.

The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all hit record highs, while the Russell 2000 notched a sixth straight week of gains. Inflation ticked up slightly in August, with CPI rising 2.9% year-over-year, but softening labor data—such as jobless claims reaching their highest level since 2021—has reinforced hopes of monetary easing.

Overall, a mix of rate cut optimism and AI-driven momentum has created a supportive backdrop for equities, particularly tech stocks, though the market’s next leg will hinge on the Fed’s policy decision.

How to Buy US Stocks

1. Select a brokerage platform

The first thing you’ll need before you can trade stocks is a brokerage platform. The platform will allow you to buy and sell stocks, monitor your assets, and manage your investment funds.

When it comes to choosing the right brokerage platform, there are several key factors to consider. This includes commission fees, ease of use and features.

Commissions and Fees

Most brokerages charge a commission per transaction, plus a platform fee.

Keeping in mind that the key objective of investing is to accumulate wealth, it is often ideal to pick brokerage platforms with lower commission fees since these can really eat into your profits.

Here’s a comparison of the fees charged by some well-known brokerage platforms in Singapore when investing in US stocks.

Platform	Minimum Fee	Commissions	Other Fees
Syfe Brokerage	Introductory Offer: Unlimited free US trades for the first 3 months At least 2 free US trades/month, US$1.49/trade thereafter	No platform fees	No withdrawal fees
Moomoo	US$0.99/order, or 0.03% of transaction	US$0.99/order	No withdrawal fees
Tiger Brokers	US$0.005/share Min. US$1/order	US$0.005/share Min. US$0.99/order	No withdrawal fees

Ease of Use and Features

Investing shouldn’t be that hard. Having a user-friendly interface can really help with the experience. This is why Syfe Brokerage has been designed to be simple and hassle-free.

No matter which platform you pick, explore the brokerage platform to see if it’s intuitive and easy to use for you.

2. Research stocks

Now that you have decided on a brokerage platform, it’s time to actually pick a stock. Understanding your risk appetite and financial goals can be helpful in narrowing down the choices. For instance, are you looking to gain steady compound interest over a long duration, or are you aiming for high-risk, high-reward trades?

One way to decide on stocks is to consider the global brands you use every day. List down the companies that you believe are going to continue growing, and do your due research on their financial status and future plans.

Like Warren Buffet put it, “Buy into a company because you want to own it, not because you want the stock to go up.”

Another tip you can consider is to diversify your portfolio. This means buying a range of stocks from different industries, so that they are not all affected by the same market trends and world events. Such a strategy can lower the risk of your overall investment portfolio and help you stay afloat even when a crisis happens in one particular sector.

3. Decide how much to invest

How much are you willing to invest? As a rule of thumb, experts recommend setting aside 10% to 20% of your after-tax income for investing. However, there is no one-size-fits-all and you should definitely consider your own financial situation and goals before committing.

With Syfe Brokerage’s fractional trading feature, you can buy your favourite stocks with as little as US$1.

4. Choose your order type

There are 2 main order types: market orders and limit orders.

Market orders refer to buying shares at market price. You can set market orders if you really want to buy the shares, right now. This may also be applicable if the stock is rising rapidly in price and you are hoping to jump on the train quickly.

On the other hand, limit orders can be used when you want to buy the stock at a specific price. For example, you may find that the current stock price is too high, and want to get more out of your money by only buying the stock if it fluctuates below the current price.

How to Buy Stocks with Syfe Brokerage

Buying stocks is simple with Syfe Brokerage. Our fractional trading feature allows you to buy over thousands of US stocks and ETFs with as little as US$1. This means that you can now invest easily within your budget, without worrying about hefty share prices.

With Syfe Brokerage, you get to choose your preferred order type.

Syfe Brokerage is offering free unlimited US trades for the first three months. After the introductory offer period, you’ll get two free trades each month. So, if you plan your trades carefully you might not even have to pay transaction fees. Even if you exceed your free trade allowance after the third trade, there’s a low flat fee of just US$1.49 per trade (not per share).

Opening an account is fast and simple with Singpass. Syfe Brokerage is also licensed by MAS, so you can trade with peace of mind.

Get Started

US Stock Exchange Trading Hours: Regular, Pre-market, After-hours

US trading hours are a practical consideration, as US markets typically run late in Singapore. Understanding the standard schedule helps you plan investing routines that do not require constant monitoring.

Regular session (the baseline to learn first)

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) core trading session is 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

In Singapore time, this shifts with US daylight saving time (DST):

When the US is on DST (roughly March–November): about 9:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. SGT.
When the US is not on DST: about 10:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. SGT.

For most beginners, the regular session is the most suitable period to trade due to stronger liquidity.

Extended-hours trading (pre-market & after-hours): what it is, and the shared risks

Extended-hours trading refers to trading outside the main US market session. It typically includes:

US pre-market trading Singapore: trading before the regular session opens (i.e., you can place trades earlier than the usual market open).
After-hours trading Singapore: trading after the regular session closes (i.e., you can still trade even though the “main” market is closed).

While they occur at different times, the key risks are broadly the same in both sessions:

Lower liquidity (meaning: fewer buyers and sellers, so prices can move more easily).
Wider bid–ask spreads (meaning: a larger gap between the buy price and sell price, which can increase your effective cost).
Higher volatility and sharper price swings (meaning: prices may jump or drop more suddenly, especially around earnings or breaking news).
Less predictable execution (meaning: your order may not fill, or may fill at a less favourable price—especially if you use market orders).

For beginners, a sensible default is to prefer limit orders if you are trading in extended hours. This way, with a limit order the execution price is assured hence minimising the risk.

A “sleep-friendly” workflow for Singapore investors

A practical framework for US Stocks Investing Singapore that does not rely on constant monitoring:

Use alerts rather than frequent checking.
Place limit orders during the evening (before sleep).
Consider recurring investing for long-term goals.
Avoid reactive decisions during extended hours.

Risk Management: Making US Stocks Investing in Singapore Sustainable

Sustainable investing is usually less about speed and more about consistency. For US Stocks Investing in Singapore, the most practical risk management tools are diversification, sizing, and disciplined order execution.

Diversification and position sizing (rules that reduce regret)

A straightforward approach:

Use diversified exposure (often via ETFs) as the core.
Keep individual stocks (if any) limited in size.
Maintain an emergency cash buffer separate from your investing portfolio.

If you hold individual stocks, consider limiting a single stock to a modest share of your overall portfolio (for example, 1–5%), depending on your risk tolerance. This reduces the chance that one event dominates your results.

Order discipline: limit vs market

For beginners, limit orders are often preferable because they allow you to specify the maximum price you will pay (or minimum price you will accept when selling). This is particularly relevant:

At the market open.
During high-volatility periods.
In extended hours, where spreads may widen.

Common beginner mistakes (and practical corrections)

Mistake: Choosing a broker based only on headline commission.
Correction: Compare total us stock trading fees (including commissions and fees).
Mistake: Treating extended-hours liquidity as equivalent to normal hours.
Correction: Default to regular session trading; use limit orders if trading extended hours.
Mistake: Excessive trading because it feels “cheap”.
Correction: Align activity with your goal (long-term investing usually benefits from fewer, more systematic trades).
Mistake: Monitoring the market nightly.
Correction: Use alerts and a written plan; avoid decisions driven by short-term noise.

Unique insight: A repeatable system is a competitive advantage. For most individuals, the best “strategy” is a process that can be repeated through different market conditions with minimal emotional strain.

Quick Takeaways

The best broker for us stocks Singapore is defined by access, transparent all-in fees, and ease of use and features.
Prioritise regular session trading; liquidity is generally stronger during core hours.
Exercise caution with after-hours trading Singapore; Keep note on risks such as wider spreads and lower liquidity.
Start simple, then scale: diversification and sensible sizing are more important than speed.
If your goal is long-term, focus on process consistency rather than short-term headlines.

Conclusion

Starting US stocks investing in Singapore does not require complex strategies. It requires clarity on costs, a reliable platform, and a disciplined execution process.

Begin by selecting a broker based on US market access and all-in US trading fees (including commissions and platform fees). Fund your account, and execute your first trade using a limit order during the regular trading session. Once you have successfully completed one full cycle, you will have removed much of the uncertainty that beginners often face.

From there, focus on sustainability. Use alerts rather than constant monitoring, consider recurring investing for long-term objectives, and treat after-hours trading Singapore as an optional tool rather than a default behaviour. Over time, consistency and disciplined decisions tend to matter more than trying to react quickly to short-term market movements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) How to buy US stocks Singapore if I only have SGD?

Most brokers allow you to deposit SGD and convert to USD within the platform. With Syfe Brokerage, when you place a US order in SGD, Syfe automatically converts your SGD to USD at order time, so you don’t need a separate FX step.

2) What is the best broker for us stocks Singapore for beginners?

There is no single best option for everyone. For beginners, prioritise clear fees, reliable US market access, and strong order controls such as limit orders and alerts.

3) How can I make US stocks investing more sustainable long term?

Start with a simple plan you can repeat. Use a diversified core (often ETFs), keep single-stock positions small, and invest on a regular schedule that fits your cashflow. Prefer limit orders when markets are volatile, avoid making decisions based on daily headlines, and review your portfolio on a set cadence (e.g., monthly or quarterly) rather than constantly checking prices (meaning: fewer impulsive trades and a higher chance you stick with the plan through market ups and downs).

4) Is fractional shares Singapore necessary to start?

Not necessarily. Fractional shares Singapore can help if you want to invest fixed amounts regularly or gain exposure to higher-priced shares/ETFs without purchasing a full share. With Syfe Brokerage’s fractional trading feature, you can buy your favourite stocks starting from US$1.

5) What are US stock exchange trading hours Singapore time?

The NYSE core session is 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In Singapore time, this is typically around 9:30 p.m.–4:00 a.m. SGT during US daylight saving time and 10:30 p.m.–5:00 a.m. SGT outside daylight saving time. Confirm exact timings with your broker during DST transitions.