Fidelity Investments has introduced an online platform for retail investors, broker-dealers and advisers to trade international stocks and exchange foreign currencies.
Individual investors using the platform can more easily diversify the equity portion of their portfolios with global assets.
"When you consider that, over the last 10 years, 80% of the world's best-performing stocks were listed outside the U.S., it is understandable why investors are increasing their focus on international investing," James C. Burton, the president of Boston-based Fidelity's retail brokerage business, said in a press release last week.
The platform gives customers automated and direct access to global markets and foreign currencies; third-party research, news, real-time market data and quotes for foreign currency and international equities, and streamlined processing and record keeping for international equities and foreign currencies.
Retail investors can trade in 12 foreign markets and exchange eight currencies from their existing brokerage accounts.
