[Homerun04]

Mike P -

You would be correct, but for one premise --- the VAST majority of the corporations located in Germany, France, etc. trade/are listed on the local stock exchanges in those countries and not on NASDAQ, NYSE or another US board (i.e. Chicago Board of Trade).....Americans can invest in these firms in the form of ADRs, but they ARE foreign listed firms.

Also, investors only get DIVIDENDS from their holdings as a result of positive earnings by a publically traded company. Dividends are calculated after profit is assumed, so regardless of the investor's getting their dividend return, the company has already taken THEIR major piece of the pie......remember, dividends are not guaranteed. They are AWARDED to stockholders as the Board of Directors of the company sees fit.

So, for example, Siemens, Alstom, Daimler-Chrysler are all listed on other exchanges. Amercian's can buy ownership through ADRs only.