How does SaxoMarkets convert SGD TO USD? Is it automatic?

Compared with some other brokers, SAXO exchange rate for SGD to USD is poor.

It may be helpful to use different sub-accounts in Saxo. Each sub-account corresponds to 1 currency (e.g. USD, HKD). You can then trade using different sub-accounts (e.g. use the USD sub-account to trade USD instruments).

Funds can be deposited into the main / default account (SGD), and then transferred to other sub-accounts (e.g. SGD to USD) at your own discretion (but based on Saxo's FX rate at the time of transfer, and a 0.3% fee which is better than the market average).

This might further reduce FX costs / risks. Suppose you want to sell a USD stock but the USD/SGD exchange rate is not good. It makes sense to sell the USD stock and receive USD in your USD sub-account, and then transfer the proceeds from the USD sub-account to the SGD account at a later date. Alternatively, if you intend to buy another USD stock using those same proceeds, you can just do so from the USD sub-account and avoid multiple FX conversions (i.e. USD to SGD and back to USD).

Drawback is that it's more complicated and time-consuming to manage. But it should help save some FX-related costs :)

See more details here: https://www.help.saxo/hc/en-sg/articles/3600012...

Financial Horse also had a good write-up here: https://financialhorse.com/saxo-slashes-commiss...​​​

I sold one of my usd stock and it automatically convert back to sgd.. but i am gg to buy more usd stock.. can i maintain the usd? how to stop the automated conversion

The most fee friendly way is to use Revolut - or so I found. Be careful though not to fund your Revolut account with a large amount as it might trigger their fraud system and you will have to supply them with documents.

The different ways are to do a remit from a SG bank, FAST (SGD) transfer to SAXO USD account for on the fly transfer, Buy the U.S stock and do the coversion in the interface.​​​