Here are some handy tips from my experience with the indian stock markets - Banking Sector. Inflation is the key factor here. With inflation, expect the RBI to hike lending rates, which would have a ripple effect (other banks will be … Read More…

There are a vast number of investment opportunities available to potential investors, but not all of them are right for all purposes. The most common types of investments are stocks and bonds. Stocks are shares of individual companies, while bonds are government-issued investment funds. Both can be great for starting in the investing market, but you should know a little about the difference between the two before making your investment.

Stocks

Stocks can help balance out a bond-heavy portfolio by providing diversification

Stock dividends also receive more favorable tax treatment than bond payouts.

If you make the decision that stocks may be the place for you to put your investment dollars, you must now determine the primary purpose of your stock investment.

The two primary stock investment goals are income and growth. You can have a combination of the two in one stock investment, but the features are almost never equal. In other words, although growth and income may co-exist in a particular stock investment, the investment choice you make should take into account the primary strength of the stock.

Growth Stock vs. Income Stock

Growth stock is stock in a company that doesn’t pay cash dividends, but instead reinvests its profits into the company. The idea behind this strategy is that the company will continue to grow and become more profitable, driving the stock price up.

Income stock is stock in well-established companies that do not need to reinvest their profits into their companies and therefore use their profits to pay dividends to stockholders. Income stock is often more expensive because the income stream and security of the investment is greater.

Mutual Funds

Many investors invest in the stock market through mutual funds. Mutual funds are professionally managed and are easier to diversify your investments in, which makes them less risky than investing in individual stocks. You still have to research what type of stock will best suit your goals, but the average investor finds it less stressful to invest in the stock market through this method.

Bonds

Bonds, though some consider them ?safer? than stocks, still come with risks. Some bond funds offer enticing payouts but may take big chances to do so, including venturing into lower-quality and longer-duration credits; if your funds’ bonds lose value, you could see your principal shrink even though you’re pocketing a healthy yield. Checking a fund’s quarterly losses can be an easy way to see whether you could stomach a given fund’s short-term losses. There’s nothing wrong with making room for some higher-yielding bond funds around the margins of your portfolio, but consider these income-heavy funds to be side items because of their greater potential for volatility.

And while paying for high-quality financial advice can be money well spent, think carefully before paying a sales charge for a bond fund. If you’re paying a 3.75% load to buy a bond fund (and that’s a pretty low load), you’re surrendering most of your first year’s income payments from the get-go.

Individual Bonds vs. Bond Funds

Many investors prefer to invest in individual bonds rather than bond funds. While that’s a reasonable tack if you’re buying Treasury securities or perhaps even extremely high-quality corporate bonds, it makes sense to opt for a professionally managed bond fund for every other type of fixed-income security. Not only will a mutual fund offer you much more diversification (and therefore lower risk) than you could obtain by buying individual bonds, but smaller investors who are buying and selling individual bonds are also at a big disadvantage when it comes to trading costs.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author’s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

It’s been said that nothing is certain except for death and taxes, but there are likely many people who feel that the fluctuations of the stock market should be added to the list. It is nearly impossible to find a stock or other investment that doesn’t fall in value at one point or another while you own it… some even make a regular habit of it.

In order to get the most out of your investment experience, it’s important to recognize patterns in the performance of certain stocks so that you can get a better feel for how long their occasional fluctuations might last and help you to decide whether or not you should sell the stock or see it through until prices rise again.

Defining Cyclical Stocks

Cyclical stocks, as the name might imply, are stocks that periodically fall in value and then rise again soon after. The apparent cycle of gain and loss can be caused by several different situations, from economic trends and seasonal products to the stocks being issued by companies that do the majority of their business during certain parts of the year such as holidays or tax preparation season. In most cases these stocks don’t suffer a major loss over the course of the cycle, due largely to the recovery that occurs later in the cycle.

Some cyclical stocks perform these actions in reverse, as well… instead of falling in value, they increase the value of their shares for a time and then the prices return to their normal state.

The Fluctuations of Cyclical Stocks

Of course, the fluctuations of cyclical stocks tend to make some investors shy away from making a major commitment to what tend to be at best a form of seasonal investment. Individuals who are looking for good short-term investments often consider these fluctuations to be more of a godsend, however, and are much more willing to invest larger sums during the low point of the cycle in hopes of reaping greater rewards when the value of the stock shares peaks. Of course, this plan isn’t foolproof… changes in the market or the economy can either stimulate or delay the cycle, making the cycle start later or last longer.

Additionally, some cyclical stocks are only temporarily in a cycle so investing in them with the hopes of their repeating of past performance can cause problems with cycle planning when they begin either rising or dropping in value and then fail to recover or if they fail to do either.

Deciding Whether to Keep or Sell Cyclical Stocks

Of course, cyclical stocks can cause undue stress when their value begins to fall… the decision must be made to either hold onto the stocks until the value recovers or sell off at least some of the shares of stock in order to avoid a potentially large loss of investment revenue.

The decision remains up to the investor, but a well-diversified portfolio that contains investments in cyclical stocks should be able to bear temporary losses in stock value without a great degree of difficulty since if the stock is truly cyclical it will recover within a reasonable amount of time anyway.

Cyclical Stocks and Long-Term Investments

Of course, cyclical stocks can be used effectively for long-term investments. The growth end of the cycle is usually increased slightly with each revolution of the cycle, so investors who choose to purchase cyclical stocks and hold onto them for a number of years may find that when they finally sell them the value is much higher than it would have been for short-term investments.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author’s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About the Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Here are some handy tips from my experience with the indian stock markets - Banking Sector. Inflation is the key factor here. With inflation, expect the RBI to hike lending rates, which would have a ripple effect (other banks will be … Read More…

Benjamin Graham (1894-1976) is considered by many to be the architect of Fundamental Analysis and Value Investing. Graham liked to find discrepancies between a stock’s price and its value and would buy large portfolios of undervalued stocks, holding them until they became fully valued. In his 1949 book “The Intelligent Investor, Graham describes a stock selection technique that identifies stocks that are trading at a deep discount to a calculated value termed the Net Current Asset Value or NCAV.

Benjamin Graham (1894-1976) is considered by many to be the architect of Fundamental Analysis and Value Investing. Graham liked to find discrepancies between a stock’s price and its value and would buy large portfolios of undervalued stocks, holding them until they became fully valued. In his 1949 book “The Intelligent Investor, Graham describes a stock selection technique that identifies stocks that are trading at a deep discount to a calculated value termed the Net Current Asset Value or NCAV.

Calculation of a stock’s NCAV is a fairly simple endeavor and is somewhat different from the calculation of Book Value. Whereas Book Value is purely a per share measure of Assets - Liabilities, the NCAV is a little more rigorous.

In calculating NCAV, Graham only considered Current Assets, i.e. cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventories. However, from this value he still subtracted Total Assets. The result he then divided by the number of shares outstanding to give the NCAV per share. This value would be considered by Graham to be a fair value for the stock.

You might think he would buy at this price, but no. Graham onlybought stocks that were trading under two-thirds or 66% of their NCAV. Consider as an example G-III Apparel Group Ltd, ticker symbol GIII.

Current Assets are $130.25M, Total Liabilities are $68.3M, and there are 7.22M shares outstanding.

NCAV = (130.25 - 68.3) / 7.22 = $8.58.

Two-thirds of this price would be $5.66. At the time of writing (03/07/05), GIII is trading at $7.67, so may not be a buy candidate at present. It is important to note that Graham would consider the NCAV to be a first step in further analysis of the stock. A sensible investor would investigate the balance sheet further to check for a sound business with other desirable factors such as good earnings,revenue growth, low debt-to-equity, and good operational cash flow per share.

Stocks trading at such a deep discount are few and far between, and have usually been beaten down by a combination of bad news and emotional reactions from the investing public. These stocks were Graham’s bread and butter. He repeatedly insisted that the time to buy stocks was when everyone else was selling and the time to sell was when everyone else was buying. Had he been alive, he certainly would have been out of stocks before the dot com bubble burst and would surely have been picking up bargains soon after. It is no secret that one of Graham’s most famous disciples is Warren Buffett who has consistently beaten the market by a large margin with his investments.

One study has shown that Graham’s NCAV strategy works well; in this particular study, portfolios picked using the strategy at the beginning of each year between 1970 and 1983 would have returned an average annual gain of over 29% when held for only the duration of each year in this 13 year period.

Van Tharp mentions an actual investing strategy based on the NCAV or Graham’s Number as it is sometimes called, in his book “Safe Strategies for Financial Freedom”. The strategy as mentioned by Tharp involves buying stocks at two-thirds of their NCAV, and selling a third of your holding when a 50% profit is achieved. If the price continues upwards to give 100% profit, you sell a number of shares to make up half your original holding. You now have your original investment back and have a holding of “free” shares.

This strategy can be performed in an IRA using a large portfolio of perhaps 30 similarly undervalued stocks. If the market has been declining for several months, there will be several such stocks to choose from. In an up trending market, however, it will be much harder to find good value candidates but diligent investors who do their homework will more often than not be well rewarded for their efforts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wearing birkenstock shoes is like wearing no other pair of shoes. Johann Adam Birkenstock was a shoemaker in Germany in the late 1700s. The birkenstock shoe was designed with an understanding that a persons shoes should reflect the shape of their feet. If the shoe is contoured and shaped like a human foot, comfort is sure to follow. For many, many years birkenstock shoes have done just that. Comfort, style and durability have all been a part of every pair of birkenstocks.

In prehistoric times skins or hides were probably tied around the foot for protection and warmth. The sandal, probably the earliest form of shoe, was worn in Egypt, Greece, and Rome; an early form of the boot was also known in Greece and Rome. The characteristic shoe of the Middle Ages was the soft, clinging moccasin, which extended to the ankle. It was highly decorated and was of velvet, cloth of gold, and, increasingly, of leather. Today the choices of shoes are greatwonderful styles and comfort.

Whether its birkenstock shoes, birkenstock sandals or clogs, each pair is beautifully designed and crafted for easy wear and fashionable.

Mike Yeager
Author/Publisher
http://www.a1-shoes-4u.com/

Housing prices had the biggest decline ever, the US and international stock markets had some very dark days, 17000 US jobs unexpectedly “disappeared,” and many experts feel that we’re heading into a recession. …

Stock represents a share of ownership in a corporation. A bond is a security that represents a debt owed by the corporation to the bondholder, but does not include the ownership privileges of a stockholder. Stocks and bonds are the staples of many investment portfolios. As an investor, it is important to have a clear understanding of just what these securities can and cannot be expected to offer by way of a return.

The exchanges
When you invest in securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), you are participating in the growth of some of the largest U.S. and foreign corporations. The NYSE lists more than 1,800 stocks and over 2,400 corporate bonds. However, many more stocks and bonds are offered in other established and less well established markets. Among the markets that you may wish to participate in are the American Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange, Boston Stock Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange and NASDAQ.

Common stock
Common stocks ??? also called common shares, capital shares, or capital stock ??? represents units of ownership in a public corporation. Purchasers of common stock are granted specific rights that may include the right to:

* Vote at stockholders meetings,
* Sell or otherwise dispose of their stock,
* Have the right of first opportunity to purchase additional shares of common stocks issued by the corporation,
* Share pro-rata with other common stockholders in any dividends distributed to common stockholders,
* Receive annual reports and inspect the corporation???s books and records,
* Share in any assets remaining after creditors are paid if the corporation is liquidated.

A corporation may be authorized to issue more than one class of stock. For example, one class of common stock might have enhanced voting rights. Holders of this class would likely pay a higher price for their shares. Usually any additional classes of stock being offered are designated as ???preferred stock.???

Preferred stock
Preferred stock gets its name from the preferences granted to its owners. These preferences may include the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in case of liquidation. Preferred stock generally does not carry a voting right. This type of stock is issued to raise additional capital without jeopardizing the controlling interests
of the common stockholders.

Preferred stock may be participating or nonparticipating, cumulative or non-cumulative, callable, convertible, or some combination of these. The benefits of investing in this type of stock are often similar to those of bonds. Most preferred stock dividends offer a fixed rate of income.

Preferred stockholders have an ownership interest in a company???s net worth. Such stock is subordinate to the company???s debts to bondholders, but it is superior to common stock. Preferred stocks offer relative safeties of income, but preferred stock prices usually have a more modest growth potential than common stock.

You should discuss with your broker the various types of preferred stock available and whether they fit into your investment objectives.

How stock is valued
Stock is often referred to as having par value, book value, and market value.

Par Value
Par value is an arbitrary value set by the company at the time of issuance and is of little concern to most investors.

Book value
Book value is calculated by dividing the total net assets of the company by the number of shares outstanding.

Market value
The price at which shares of stock can be bought and sold is called the market value. Shares that are not publicly traded, however, will have no market value.

Vital information about public companies
Information about public companies whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, or over-the-counter is contained in the documents these public companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Among the items reported are:
* Financial statements
* Description of business
* Location and character of principal properties
* Legal proceedings
* Stock options and compensation of top executives
* Proposed offerings of securities
* Number of shareholders
* Number of employees

Issuers of registered securities must file annual and other periodic reports that provide a public file of current information about the company. These reports include the 10-K, which provides a comprehensive overview of the company. The 10-K is filed within 90
days after the close of the company???s fiscal year.

The 10-Q is a quarterly financial report filed by most companies, which although un-audited, provides a continuing view of a company???s financial position during the year. The 10-Q must be filed 45 days after the close of the fiscal year quarter. To obtain copies of these reports, contact the SEC.

Dividends and yields
Unlike interest on bonds or certificates of deposit that remains constant, dividends on stock can be reduced or eliminated in lean periods. Profits in good years, however, usually mean higher dividends, increased stock prices, and better returns for the stockholder.

Preferred stock dividends are usually paid at a fixed rate and before dividends are paid on common stock. In addition, most preferred stock dividends are cumulative, which means that if the company fails to pay a dividend when due, the unpaid dividend obligation will accumulate for the benefit of the preferred stock owners. These obligations must be paid in full before common stockholders receive any dividend payments.

Warrants
A warrant is a type of security, usually issued together with a bond or preferred stock. The warrant entitles the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specific price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. A warrant is usually offered as a ???sweetener,??? to enhance the appeal of the accompanying fixed-income securities.

About the author:
Larry Westfall is the owner of DIY Investing - http://www.pennystockebook.com

So ??? You want to start trading stocks online.Larry WestfallThe advent of the Internet has brought some wondrous things to our front rooms. One of the best is online trading in the stock market

The primary reasons are 1) speed of execution and 2) transaction costs. Once you click your mouse button, your transaction can be completed in a matter of seconds for less than 10 dollars per trade.

Before you select an online broker (actually an online brokerage firm since everything is automated and you will have no need to speak to an actual broker), do some research and find a company that is right for you. Consider the transaction price, types of investments you plan to make, reliability of brokerage firm, etc. In other words ??? do your homework.

Here are some things to consider when selecting an online brokerage firm:
?? Understand that most likely you are not linked directly to the market through your home computer and that the click of your mouse does not instantly execute trades or cancel orders. Your order goes through your brokerage firm electronically and is placed in the order received. Your brokerage firm is required to find the best price for you. Even though the order goes through the brokerage firm, a market order will be executed in a matter of seconds. Be careful with market orders in a fast moving market ??? use a limit order instead to minimize your risk.
?? Determine if the stock quotes and account updates you receive are real-time or delayed. Even the quotes you see on the ticket on CNBC are delayed. Real-time quotes are provided by most brokerages ??? some for free, some for a fee.
?? Check the on-line broker???s ability to get the best price for investors. Most brokerage firms provide this information on their website. Again, you have to read through the site and request information. You want to find the best deal that suits your requirements.
?? Receive information from the firm to substantiate any advertised claims concerning the ease and speed of online trading. There are many online firms that have specific securities that they specialize in ??? some are for penny stocks, some only trade the major markets, and some are for overseas, some for options. Do your Due Diligence and find the one best for you.
?? Obtain information about entering and canceling orders (market, limit, and stop loss), and the details and risks of margin accounts (borrowing to buy stocks). Margin accounts are not for the novice. Basically it is a very expensive loan that can be called at the whim of the brokerage firm. They all have different rules about margin ??? best to not even go here.
?? Get information from the firm about significant website outages, delays, and other interruptions that may affect your ability to execute trades. Make sure that the firm has an alternative way to execute trades. Most will allow phone calls directly to brokers for no additional fees if there is a computer problem.
?? Review the firm???s privacy and security policies. Determine if your name will be used for mailing lists or other promotional activities by the firm or any other party. You want to steer clear of mailing lists ??? unless you like receiving spam. Most of the major firms don???t sell your info and the only email that you receive from them is your monthly statement information.
?? Receive clear information about sales commissions, transaction fees, and conditions that apply to any advertised discount on commissions. Watch out for those hidden fees ??? some charge a ???per share??? fee for low cap stocks which can add hundreds of dollars to your transaction. Read the fine print.
?? Know how to contact a customer service representative if problems occur. Request prompt attention and fair consideration. Be sure to keep good records to substantiate any problems that may occur. A company???s 800-number is usually listed on the front page or the contact page of their web site. Email contact is also provided and they usually have an answer for you in one or two business days.
?? Contact your local securities division to verify the registration status and disciplinary history (if any) of the online brokerage firm, or to file a complaint, if appropriate. You can also go to the Securities and Exchange Commission web page for additional information ??? www.sec.gov

Make an informed decision and make some money with online investing.

About the author:
Larry Westfall is the owner of DIY Investing - http://www.pennystockebook.com

Stock represents a share of ownership in a corporation. A bond is a security that represents a debt owed by the corporation to the bondholder, but does not include the ownership privileges of a stockholder. Stocks and bonds are the staples of many investment portfolios. As an investor, it is important to have a clear understanding of just what these securities can and cannot be expected to offer by way of a return.

The exchanges
When you invest in securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), you are participating in the growth of some of the largest U.S. and foreign corporations. The NYSE lists more than 1,800 stocks and over 2,400 corporate bonds. However, many more stocks and bonds are offered in other established and less well established markets. Among the markets that you may wish to participate in are the American Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange, Boston Stock Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange and NASDAQ.

Common stock
Common stocks ??? also called common shares, capital shares, or capital stock ??? represents units of ownership in a public corporation. Purchasers of common stock are granted specific rights that may include the right to:

* Vote at stockholders meetings,
* Sell or otherwise dispose of their stock,
* Have the right of first opportunity to purchase additional shares of common stocks issued by the corporation,
* Share pro-rata with other common stockholders in any dividends distributed to common stockholders,
* Receive annual reports and inspect the corporation???s books and records,
* Share in any assets remaining after creditors are paid if the corporation is liquidated.

A corporation may be authorized to issue more than one class of stock. For example, one class of common stock might have enhanced voting rights. Holders of this class would likely pay a higher price for their shares. Usually any additional classes of stock being offered are designated as ???preferred stock.???

Preferred stock
Preferred stock gets its name from the preferences granted to its owners. These preferences may include the payment of dividends and distribution of assets in case of liquidation. Preferred stock generally does not carry a voting right. This type of stock is issued to raise additional capital without jeopardizing the controlling interests
of the common stockholders.

Preferred stock may be participating or nonparticipating, cumulative or non-cumulative, callable, convertible, or some combination of these. The benefits of investing in this type of stock are often similar to those of bonds. Most preferred stock dividends offer a fixed rate of income.

Preferred stockholders have an ownership interest in a company???s net worth. Such stock is subordinate to the company???s debts to bondholders, but it is superior to common stock. Preferred stocks offer relative safeties of income, but preferred stock prices usually have a more modest growth potential than common stock.

You should discuss with your broker the various types of preferred stock available and whether they fit into your investment objectives.

How stock is valued
Stock is often referred to as having par value, book value, and market value.

Par Value
Par value is an arbitrary value set by the company at the time of issuance and is of little concern to most investors.

Book value
Book value is calculated by dividing the total net assets of the company by the number of shares outstanding.

Market value
The price at which shares of stock can be bought and sold is called the market value. Shares that are not publicly traded, however, will have no market value.

Vital information about public companies
Information about public companies whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, or over-the-counter is contained in the documents these public companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Among the items reported are:
* Financial statements
* Description of business
* Location and character of principal properties
* Legal proceedings
* Stock options and compensation of top executives
* Proposed offerings of securities
* Number of shareholders
* Number of employees

Issuers of registered securities must file annual and other periodic reports that provide a public file of current information about the company. These reports include the 10-K, which provides a comprehensive overview of the company. The 10-K is filed within 90
days after the close of the company???s fiscal year.

The 10-Q is a quarterly financial report filed by most companies, which although un-audited, provides a continuing view of a company???s financial position during the year. The 10-Q must be filed 45 days after the close of the fiscal year quarter. To obtain copies of these reports, contact the SEC.

Dividends and yields
Unlike interest on bonds or certificates of deposit that remains constant, dividends on stock can be reduced or eliminated in lean periods. Profits in good years, however, usually mean higher dividends, increased stock prices, and better returns for the stockholder.

Preferred stock dividends are usually paid at a fixed rate and before dividends are paid on common stock. In addition, most preferred stock dividends are cumulative, which means that if the company fails to pay a dividend when due, the unpaid dividend obligation will accumulate for the benefit of the preferred stock owners. These obligations must be paid in full before common stockholders receive any dividend payments.

Warrants
A warrant is a type of security, usually issued together with a bond or preferred stock. The warrant entitles the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specific price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. A warrant is usually offered as a ???sweetener,??? to enhance the appeal of the accompanying fixed-income securities.

About the author:
Larry Westfall is the owner of DIY Investing - http://www.pennystockebook.com

So ??? You want to start trading stocks online.Larry WestfallThe advent of the Internet has brought some wondrous things to our front rooms. One of the best is online trading in the stock market

The primary reasons are 1) speed of execution and 2) transaction costs. Once you click your mouse button, your transaction can be completed in a matter of seconds for less than 10 dollars per trade.

Before you select an online broker (actually an online brokerage firm since everything is automated and you will have no need to speak to an actual broker), do some research and find a company that is right for you. Consider the transaction price, types of investments you plan to make, reliability of brokerage firm, etc. In other words ??? do your homework.

Here are some things to consider when selecting an online brokerage firm:
?? Understand that most likely you are not linked directly to the market through your home computer and that the click of your mouse does not instantly execute trades or cancel orders. Your order goes through your brokerage firm electronically and is placed in the order received. Your brokerage firm is required to find the best price for you. Even though the order goes through the brokerage firm, a market order will be executed in a matter of seconds. Be careful with market orders in a fast moving market ??? use a limit order instead to minimize your risk.
?? Determine if the stock quotes and account updates you receive are real-time or delayed. Even the quotes you see on the ticket on CNBC are delayed. Real-time quotes are provided by most brokerages ??? some for free, some for a fee.
?? Check the on-line broker???s ability to get the best price for investors. Most brokerage firms provide this information on their website. Again, you have to read through the site and request information. You want to find the best deal that suits your requirements.
?? Receive information from the firm to substantiate any advertised claims concerning the ease and speed of online trading. There are many online firms that have specific securities that they specialize in ??? some are for penny stocks, some only trade the major markets, and some are for overseas, some for options. Do your Due Diligence and find the one best for you.
?? Obtain information about entering and canceling orders (market, limit, and stop loss), and the details and risks of margin accounts (borrowing to buy stocks). Margin accounts are not for the novice. Basically it is a very expensive loan that can be called at the whim of the brokerage firm. They all have different rules about margin ??? best to not even go here.
?? Get information from the firm about significant website outages, delays, and other interruptions that may affect your ability to execute trades. Make sure that the firm has an alternative way to execute trades. Most will allow phone calls directly to brokers for no additional fees if there is a computer problem.
?? Review the firm???s privacy and security policies. Determine if your name will be used for mailing lists or other promotional activities by the firm or any other party. You want to steer clear of mailing lists ??? unless you like receiving spam. Most of the major firms don???t sell your info and the only email that you receive from them is your monthly statement information.
?? Receive clear information about sales commissions, transaction fees, and conditions that apply to any advertised discount on commissions. Watch out for those hidden fees ??? some charge a ???per share??? fee for low cap stocks which can add hundreds of dollars to your transaction. Read the fine print.
?? Know how to contact a customer service representative if problems occur. Request prompt attention and fair consideration. Be sure to keep good records to substantiate any problems that may occur. A company???s 800-number is usually listed on the front page or the contact page of their web site. Email contact is also provided and they usually have an answer for you in one or two business days.
?? Contact your local securities division to verify the registration status and disciplinary history (if any) of the online brokerage firm, or to file a complaint, if appropriate. You can also go to the Securities and Exchange Commission web page for additional information ??? www.sec.gov

Make an informed decision and make some money with online investing.

About the author:
Larry Westfall is the owner of DIY Investing - http://www.pennystockebook.com

Housing prices had the biggest decline ever, the US and international stock markets had some very dark days, 17000 US jobs unexpectedly “disappeared,” and many experts feel that we’re heading into a recession. …

The Return of Shorty?
The divergence between the views being expressed in the options and stock markets is unusual. It could be that investors are using put options to hedge their purchases of financial stocks, but the volumes seem too big for that. …

What happened in Pakistan at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 4 days ago, shows what kind of emotions people in developing and emerging countries feel when stock markets take a plunge! Whether it happens when a regional bubble is … Continue Reading…

The divergence between the views being expressed in the options and stock markets is unusual. It could be that investors are using put options to hedge their purchases of financial stocks, but the volumes seem too big for that. … Continue Reading…

What happened in Pakistan at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 4 days ago, shows what kind of emotions people in developing and emerging countries feel when stock markets take a plunge! Whether it happens when a regional bubble is … Read More…