How to Invest in Oil Stocks in Brazil

Brazil has a national oil company -- Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA -- which controls exploration, production, refining, and distribution of crude oil and the resulting fuel products in Brazil. Petrobras controls the oil industry in Brazil from the drill to the gas station. The Brazilian government owns about 30 percent of Petrobras, which allows the company to maintain its monopoly position in the country. In the U.S., Petrobras shares trade as American Depository Receipts -- (ADRs) on the New York Stock Exchange.

Step 1

Look up the current share price of the Petrobras ADR using its U.S. stock symbol, PBR. Shares of foreign companies listed as ADRs in the U.S. are priced, bought and sold just like the stocks of U.S. companies.

Step 2

Calculate how many PBR shares you want to buy by dividing your investment amount by the current share price.

Step 3

Buy shares of PBR in the same manner as you would buy a U.S. company stock. If you trade online, use the stock-order screen, then enter the stock symbol PBR and the number of shares you want to buy. The commission rate to buy ADR shares is the same as for regular stock shares.