US stocks a tap away: How Indian trading apps are changing investment habits

In recent months, Indian stock trading applications have begun facilitating easier access for retail investors to purchase shares in U.S. companies. Financial analysts suggest this development could potentially alter investment patterns among Indians as they pursue global opportunities, although concerns about associated risks and possible effects on domestic markets have been raised.

One such investor, Jishnu Banerjee, a 40-year-old professional from Bengaluru, is contemplating the addition of U.S.-based stocks like Apple and Meta to his portfolio. This interest is sparked by major Indian stockbrokers, such as Groww, Zerodha, and Angel One, launching services in October enabling millions of existing customers to invest in U.S. companies.

The introduction of these services stems from recent Indian regulatory reforms in 2025 that have loosened restrictions on overseas market access. However, investors still face currency conversion costs and international transfer requirements. The surge in demand for U.S. stocks is evident as Indian equities have trailed behind Wall Street, with India's Nifty 50 index declining by nearly 12% in the first ten months of 2026, compared to an 11% gain for the U.S. S&P 500.

Major Indian stockbrokers - Groww, Zerodha, and Angel One - introduced the new services in October, following regulatory changes that eased access to overseas markets. These services allow customers to invest through familiar apps, although currency-conversion costs and international transfer requirements persist. The growing interest in U.S. stocks coincides with Indian equities lagging behind Wall Street, with the Nifty 50 index down nearly 12% in the first ten months of 2026, while the S&P 500 surged by around 11%.

Major Indian stockbrokers, such as Groww and Zerodha, together hold nearly 44% of active retail user accounts on India's National Stock Exchange as of September. The expansion of overseas investment options reflects a shift in how Indian investors perceive opportunities outside their home market. While Indian equities were outperforming many overseas markets until around 2024, a weakening rupee, and the surge in U.S.-based artificial intelligence companies have shifted this perspective.

Wealth advisory firm Plan Ahead's Vishal Dhawan noted that his firm has been advising clients to allocate around 20% of their investments to overseas markets, as overseas markets have started delivering stronger returns. Additionally, Half of the investors who bought U.S. securities through Groww have purchased at least one AI, big-tech, or semiconductor stock, according to company data.

Popular U.S. stocks among Groww users include Nvidia, SpaceX, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Micron, Tesla, and Netflix. The appeal of U.S. stocks is also extending beyond affluent investors, as the median first international investment on INDmoney, an investment platform, is $150, and systematic investment plans (SIPs) nearly doubled between September 2025 and September 2026.