Last year, for example, international funds that invest in foreign stocks produced an average return of 53.25 percent.

That year was also a peak in foreign stocks' relative strength.

The same thing holds true for funds that buy foreign stocks.

Nearly 80 percent of the fund's money in foreign stocks and bonds is managed this way as well.

Just over $16 billion was for purchases of foreign stocks.

It is a foreign stock, which adds diversity to a portfolio.

Why not make it easier for Americans to buy foreign stocks at home?

In 1992, the worst performing sector of the market was foreign stocks.

The attraction of foreign stocks has also been strong, but is not at record levels.

So it could be some time before there is a flood of new foreign stocks that are easy for American investors to buy.