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There are no broker-dealers quoting this security. It is not listed, traded or quoted on any U.S. stock exchange or the OTC Markets. Trades in grey market stocks are reported by broker-dealers to their Self Regulatory Organization (SRO) and the SRO distributes the trade data to market data vendors and financial websites so investors can track price and volume. Since grey market securities are not traded or quoted on an exchange or interdealer quotation system, investor's bids and offers are not collected in a central spot so market transparency is diminished and Best Execution of orders is difficult.
10 Tips For Choosing An Online Broker
One of the most important investment decisions youll make has nothing to do with stocks, bonds or mutual funds. This crucial decision is picking a broker. There are dozens of companies offering brokerage services on the internet , and many of them are just as good or better than traditional, brick-and-mortar businesses, but how to decide which one is best for you?
Here are 10 critical factors youll want to consider:
1. Discount is not always a good deal. Consider starting out with a full-service broker. They are often best for novice investors who may still need to build confidence and knowledge of the markets. As you become a more sophisticated investor, you can graduate into investing more of your money yourself.
2. Availability is key. Try hitting the companys website at different times throughout the day, especially during peak trading hours. Watch how fast their site loads and check some of the links to ensure there are no technical difficulties.
3. Alternative trading provides flexibility. Although we all love the net, we cant always be at our computers. Check to see what other options the firm offers for placing trades. Other alternatives may include touch-tone telephone trades, fax ordering, or doing it the low-tech way - talking to a broker over the phone. Word to the wise: make sure you take note of the prices for these alternatives; they will often differ from an online trade .
4. The brokers background matters. What are others saying about the brokerage? Just as you should do your research before buying a stock, you should find out as much as possible about your broker . (To learn more, check out Picking Your First Broker.)
5. Price isnt everything. Remember the saying you get what you pay for? As with anything you buy, the price may be indicative of the quality. Dont open an account with a broker simply because it offers the lowest commission cost. Advertised rates for companies vary between zero and $40 per trade, with the average around $20. There may be fine print in the ad specifying which services the advertised rate will actually entitle you to. In most cases, there will be higher fees for limit orders, options and those trades over the phone with your broker. You might find that the advertised commission rate may not apply to the type of trade you want to execute.
6. Minimum deposits may not be minimal. See how much of an initial deposit the firm requires for opening an account. Beware of high minimum balances: some companies require as much as $10,000 to start. This might be fine for some investors, but not others.
7. Product selection is important. When choosing a brokerage, most people are probably thinking primarily about buying stocks . Remember there are also many investment alternatives that arent necessarily offered by every company. This includes CDs, municipal bonds, futures,options and even gold/silver certificates. Many brokerages also offer other financial services , such as checking accounts and credit cards.
8. Customer service counts. There is nothing more exasperating than sitting on hold for 20 minutes waiting to get help. Before you open an account, call the companys help desk with a fake question to test how long it takes to get a response.
9. Return on cash is money in the bank. You are likely to always have some cash in your brokerage account. Some brokerages will offer 3-5% interest on this money, while others wont offer you a dime. Phone or email the brokerage to find out what it offers. In fact, this is a good question to ask while youre testing its customer service!
10. Extras can make a difference. Be on the lookout for extra goodies offered by brokerages to people thinking of opening an account. Dont base your decision entirely on the $100 in free trades, but do keep this in mind.
The Bottom Line
With a click of the mouse, from just about anywhere in the world, you can buy and sell stocks using an online broker. The right tools for the trade are key to every successful venture; finding success in the market begins with choosing the right broker.
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These institutions manage portfolios of derivatives involving tens of thousand of positions and aggregate global turnover over $1trillion. The OTC market is an informal network of bilateral counterparty relationships and dynamic, time-varying credit exposures whose size and distribution are tied to important asset markets. International financial institutions have increasingly nurtured the ability to profit from OTC derivatives activities and financial markets participants benefit from them. As a result, OTC derivatives activities play a central and predominantly a beneficial role in modern finance.
How To Become A Self-Taught Finance Expert
So you want to become a financial expert, but dont know where to start? Have no fear, a wealth of information is at your fingertips, and getting started is easy. From a basic introduction to personal finances to advanced security analysis, anyone interested in learning can get access to the necessary resources. (For more on a career in finance, check out Is A Career In Financial Planning In Your Future?)
For a basic introduction to sound financial concepts, you cant do much better than The Richest Man in Babylon. Its a tiny little book, written in an uncomplicated style. It also captures the wisdom of the ages in an easy to follow manner.
Once youve covered that, the famous For Dummies series provides insight into everything from budgeting to mutual funds. Managing Your Money for Dummies, Budgeting for Dummies and Mutual Funds for Dummies are three titles that will help you expand your knowledge of basic concepts.
By the time you finish those four books, you are likely to have identified specific items that you would like to learn more about. For these inquiries, theres no better place to go for fast, easy access to information that online. Investopedia and similar sites provide access to a wealth of information that will keep you busy for weeks if not months. Investopedias tutorials are particularly notable, as they provide an in-depth look at a wide variety of topics.
Google and other search engines let you hone in on specific topics, and many mutual fund companies and financial services firms offer a wealth of free information. A visit to their websites can reveal everything from general education on a wide array of products to economic forecasts and economic insights from professional market watchers. With a just a little effort, you can even identify and follow comments from your favorite economist, investment strategists, portfolio manager, or other expert.
The library, you local bookstore and multiple online retailers also offer literally thousands of books on every conceivable topic. From financial history and Wall Street villains to hedge fund analysis and day-trading strategies, theres a book (or ten) for every topic of interest. (For more read, Can You Learn The Stock Market?)
Television, Radio and Podcasts Can Help Too
Television broadcasts and/or podcasts are from a variety of experts. At the national level, Suze Orman and other gurus cover the common topics. Kramer and his peers talk stocks. At the local level, your hometown is likely to have an expert or two that you can tune into at no cost. (To read more on gurus, see Investing Quotes You Can Bank On.)
Ready to Step Up Your Game? Hit the Books Again
After you have covered the basics and want a solid overview at a more detailed level, The Wall Street Journal Guide to Investing is a great place to start. When you are done with that, your local library or bookstore will contain a variety of magazines covering both timely and general financial services topics. When you are ready to learn about stock research, Value Line is a great publication that provides an introduction into how you can begin to research and analyze stocks. Some libraries provide access to Value Line for free. If your local library does not, the service is available by subscription. Even if you choose not to conduct your own stock analysis, the Value Line website is worth a visit.
If you make it this far, you are clearly serious about your endeavor. Now its time to make your quest a daily habit. Subscribing to the The Wall Street Journal will give you a daily overview of the issues impacting global business operations. The Journal also has a great Money and Investing section. Barrons is another fine publication read by many professionals in the financial services industry. There are many other top-quality publications dedicated to various aspects of the financial services world. Find one that matches your interests and read it. (Check out, 5 Must-Read Finance Books.)
Talk to the Experts
Once you have solid understanding of the various aspects of the financial services world, it is time to spend some time talking to the experts. Financial services professionals make a living with their expertise and can help you learn about everything from mortgages and debt management to retirement savings and estate planning. Some of these topics are covered in seminars, others in one-on-one consultations. You can even pick up a thing or two just by having an informal conversation. Talk to a professional financial advisor, talk to your banker, talk to your accountant and your attorney. Then listen and learn as they share their knowledge. (For help on locating an advisor, read Advice For Finding The Best Advisor.)
Ready for More?
If you like what you have seen and heard and are ready for more, the CFA Institute (a non-profit organization that offers a range of educational and career resources, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) designations) provides access to the curriculum for several of their well-regarded programs for free:
• http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprogram/courseofstudy/Pages/study_sessions.aspx
• http://www.cfainstitute.org/cipm/courseofstudy/curriculum/Pages/index.aspx
The Certified Financial Analyst program is an extremely well regarded curriculum, and the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) Program is the investment industrys only designation dedicated to investment performance analysis and presentation. If articles with titles like Evaluating Portfolio Performance by V. Bailey, Thomas M. Richards and David E. Tierney, and Investment Performance Measurement: Evaluating and Presenting Results, Philip Lawton and Todd Jankowski, eds. (Wiley 2009) capture your interest, the CFA institute has a reading list that you are sure to like. (For help choosing a designation, check out CPA, CFA Or CFP - Pick Your Abbreviation Carefully.)
A Life-Long Pursuit
The financial services field is constantly evolving and changing. Recent decades have seen the rise of unified managed accounts, the development of exchange traded funds, the evolution of annuities and insured investment products and a host of other developments. Change is par for the course as the industry adapts to dynamic economic conditions and changes in what investors want and how they wish to deploy their assets. In this environment, there is always something new to consider, something old to revisit and something interesting just beyond the horizon. Keeping up with the industry is an important part of a financial service professionals life, and continuing education requirements are required for many of these experts to maintain their credentials. What this means for the-self taught expert is that you will always have an opportunity to add to your body of knowledge.
Daily data is made up of intraday data that has been compressed to show each day as a single data point, or period.
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In the OTC market, trading occurs via a network of middlemen, called dealers, who carry inventories of securities to facilitate the buy and sell orders of investors, rather than providing the order matchmaking service seen in specialist exchanges such as the NYSE.
What Is An ETF?: An Infographic
Sometimes reading up on everything that the market has to offer isnt the best way to learn. Its understandable, and perfectly OK, if as a beginner investor, a lot of the unfamiliar words and concepts go straight over your head. The fact is, some people are visual learners, and they do better with pictures than words.
So lets take a look at ETFs. Chances are that if youre new to investing youve heard all about ETFs and that theyre a great investment for people who want to get into the market. However, did you really understand the explanations of why? Heres an easy way to break it down, provided by Mint.com.
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Technicians, technical analysts and chartists use charts to analyze a wide array of securities and forecast future price movements.
At such instances, as a matter of policy, when adequate current information is not made available, OTC Markets will label the security as "Caveat Emptor." Promotional activities may include spam email, unsolicited faxes or news releases, whether they are published by the issuer or a third party.
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The word "securities" refers to any tradable financial instrument or quantifiable index such as stocks, bonds, commodities, futures or market indices.
Investing Basics: Flight To Quality
Investing in stocks comes with the prospect of earning big returns, but it can also carry some considerable risks. At times of financial market stress, investors will often flee from risky assets and into investments that are perceived as very safe. Investors will act as a herd and try to rid themselves of any risk in what is termed a flight to quality. Whether or not an investor takes part in the flight, it is important to understand the concept, its indicators and its implications for the market.
What is a flight to quality?
A flight to quality occurs when investors rush to less risky, more liquid investments. Cash and cash equivalents, such as Treasury bills and notes, are key examples of the high-quality assets investors will seek. Investors try to allocate capital away from assets with any perceived risk into the safest possible instruments they can find. Investors usually tend to do this en masse and the effects on the market can be quite drastic. (Knowing what the market is thinking is the best way to determine what it will do next. Read Gauging Major Turns With Psychology.)
The Causes
The causes for a flight to quality are usually quite similar, and normally follow or are concurrent with some level of distress in the financial markets. Fear in the market generally leads investors to question their risk exposure and whether asset prices are justified by their risk/reward profiles.
While every market has its own intricacies, most upswings and downturns are somewhat similar: a sharp downturn follows what, in retrospect, were unjustifiable asset prices. A lot of the time the asset prices were unjustified because many risk factors such as credit problems were being ignored. Investors question the health of companies they are invested in and may decide to take profits from their riskier investments , or even sell at losses in order to move into lower-risk alternatives. Unfortunately, most investors dont get out at the early stage. Many join the flight to quality after things start to turn sour and leave themselves open to even bigger losses. (The option to bolster after-tax stock returns through tax-loss harvesting can reverse investor gloom. Check out Tax-Loss Harvesting For An Unsteady Market.)
Once major issues in the market come to light, the bubble begins to burst and panic occurs in the market as participants reprice risk. Sharp declines in asset prices add to the panic, and force people to flee toward very low-risk assets where they feel their principal is safe, without regard for potential return. A flight to quality is often a pretty abrupt shift for financial markets; as a result, indicators such as fear and shrinking yields on quality assets arent noticed until the flight has already begun.
Negative T-Bill Yield
An extreme example of a flight to quality occurred during the 2008 credit crisis. U.S. T-bills are perceived as some of the highest quality, lowest risk assets. The U.S. government is considered to have no default risk, meaning that Treasuries of any maturity have no risk of principal loss. T-bills are also issued with maturities of 90 days, so the short-term nature makes interest rate risk minimal, and, if held to maturity, non-existent.
T-bill interest rates are largely dependent on the federal funds target rate. When the Federal Reserve consistently lowered rates during 2008, eventually setting the federal funds target rate at a range of 0-0.25% on December 16, 2008, T-bills were certain to follow the trend and return next to nothing to their owners. (For more on T-bills, see the Money Market Tutorial.)
But, could they actually return less than nothing? As the flight to quality drove institutions to shed any sort of risk, the demand for T-bills quickly outpaced supply, even as the Fed was quick to create new supply. After taking a bloodbath in nearly every asset class available, institutions tried to close their books with only the highest, most conservative assets (aka T-bills) on their balance sheets. (Learn about the components of the statement of financial position and how they relate to each other in Reading The Balance Sheet.)
The flood of demand for T-bills, which were already trading at near-zero yields , caused the yield to actually turn negative. On December 9, 2008, investors bought T-bills yielding -0.01%, guaranteeing that they would receive less money three months later. Why would any institution accept that? The main reason is safety. If an institution bought $1 million worth of T-bills at the -0.01% rate, three months later their loss would about to about $25. (For more on what happened, see Why Money Market Funds Break The Buck.)
In a time of market panic and flight to quality, investors will take that very small nominal loss in exchange for the safety of not being exposed to the larger potential losses of other assets. Negative T-bill yields are not characteristic of every time the market experiences a flight to quality, but an extreme case of where demand forces down the yields of high-quality assets. (Learn more in The Fall Of The Market In The Fall Of 2008.)
Dont Panic
A flight to quality is logical to a certain point as investors reprice market risk, but can also have many adverse consequences. First, it can help exacerbate a market downturn. As investors grow fearful of stocks that have experienced sharp declines, they are more inclined to dump them, which helps worsen the decline. Investors suffer again as their fear will prevent the buying of risky assets, which after the declines may be very attractive. The best thing for an investor to keep in mind is to not panic and be the last person selling their stocks and moving into cash when stocks are likely hitting lows.
The consequences read through to businesses also, and can affect the health of the economy, possibly prolonging a downturn or recession. During and following a market crash and flight to quality, businesses may grasp cash similar to investors. This low-risk, fear-driven strategy may prevent businesses from investing in new technologies, machines, and other projects that would help the economy.
Conclusion
Just like with bubbles and crashes, a flight to quality of some degree during a market cycle is pretty much inevitable, and impossible to prevent. As investors become jaded with the risky assets, they will seek out one thing and one thing only: safety.
Is there a way to profit from a flight to quality? Not unless you can predict what everyone else will do and do the opposite. Even then, you need to time it perfectly to avoid being trampled by the herd. It may be hard, but dont panic.
FINRA requires every member to trade a security at its publicly quoted (OTC Link or FINRA's OTC Bulletin Board) price and size.
Some investors and traders consider the closing level to be more important than the open, high or low. By paying attention to only the close, intraday swings can be ignored.
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The 6 Most Common Portfolio Protection Strategies
The key to successful long-term investing is the preservation of capital. Warren Buffett, arguably the worlds greatest investor, has one rule when investing - never lose money. This doesnt mean you should sell your investment holdings the moment they enter losing territory, but you should remain keenly aware of your portfolio and the losses youre willing to endure in an effort to increase your wealth. While its impossible to avoid risk entirely when investing in the markets, these five strategies can help protect your portfolio.
Diversification
One of the cornerstones of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is diversification. In a market downturn, MPT disciples believe a well-diversified portfolio will outperform a concentrated one. Investors create deeper and more broadly diversified portfolios by owning a large number of investments in more than one asset class, thus reducing unsystematic risk. This is the risk that comes with investing in a particular company as opposed to systematic risk, which is the risk associated with investing in the markets generally.
Non-Correlating Assets
According to some financial experts, stock portfolios that include 12, 18 or even 30 stocks can eliminate most, if not all, unsystematic risk. Unfortunately, systematic risk is always present and cant be diversified away. However, by adding non-correlating asset classes such as bonds, commodities, currencies and real estate to a group of stocks, the end-result is often lower volatility and reduced systematic risk due to the fact that non-correlating assets react differently to changes in the markets compared to stocks; when one asset is down, another is up.
Ultimately, the use of non-correlating assets eliminates the highs and lows in performance, providing more balanced returns. At least thats the theory. In recent years, however, evidence suggests that assets that were once non-correlating now mimic each other, thereby reducing the strategys effectiveness. (See why investors today still follow this old set of principles that reduce risk and increase returns through diversification. Check out Modern Portfolio Theory: Why Its Still Hip.)
Leap Puts and Other Option Strategies
Between 1926 and 2009, the S
FINRA may halt trading and quotations in OTC Equity Securities in very limited circumstances where FINRA determines it is necessary to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA will exercise this authority only when 1) the OTC Equity Security or the security underlying an OTC ADR is halted on either a U.S. exchange or a foreign securities exchange or when FINRA determines that an extraordinary event has occurred that has a material effect on the market or may cause major disruption to the marketplace and/or significant uncertainty in the settlement and clearance process.
When prices move out of the trading range, it signals that either supply or demand has started to get the upper hand.
APR and APY: Why Your Bank Hopes You Cant Tell The Difference
It is often purported that Albert Einstein referred to compound interest as the greatest force on earth. Strong words from one of the smartest men to ever live. Although this articles intention is not to ponder Einsteins most compelling views, we do intend to demonstrate the importance of understanding the difference between annual percentage rate (APR) and annual percentage yield (APY). For most people, these terms are applied to loans and investment products, but they are not created equal and they significantly affect how much you earn or must pay in these transactions.
What Is Compounding?
At its most basic, compounding refers to earning interest on previous interest. All investors want to maximize compounding on their investments , while at the same time minimize it on their loans. (For more detail on this subject, see Investing 101: The Phenomenal Concept Of Compounding.)
Compounding is especially important in our APR vs. APY discussion because many financial institutions have a sneaky way of quoting interest rates that use compounding principles to their advantage. Being financially literate in this area will help you spot which interest rate you are really getting.
Defining APR and APY
APR is the annual rate of interest without taking into account the compounding of interest within that year. Alternatively, APY does take into account the effects of intra-year compounding. This seemingly subtle difference can have important implications for investors and borrowers. Here is a look at the formulas for each method:
For example, a credit card company might charge 1% interest each month; therefore, the APR would equal 12% (1% x 12 months = 12%). This differs from APY, which takes into account compound interest. The APY for a 1% rate of interest compounded monthly would be 12.68% [(1 0.01)^12 – 1= 12.68%] a year. If you only carry a balance on your credit card for one months period you will be charged the equivalent yearly rate of 12%. However, if you carry that balance for the year, your effective interest rate becomes 12.68% as a result of compounding each month.
The Borrowers Perspective
As a borrower, you are always searching for the lowest possible rate. When looking at the difference between APR and APY, you need to be worried about how a loan might be disguised as having a lower rate .
For example, when looking for a mortgage you are likely to choose a lender that offers the lowest rate. Although the quoted rates appear low, you could end up paying more for a loan than you originally anticipated.
This is because banks will often quote you the annual percentage rate (APR). As we learned earlier, this figure does not take into account any intra-year compounding either semi-annual (every six months), quarterly (every three months), or monthly (12 times per year) compounding of the loan. The APR is simply the periodic rate of interest multiplied by the number of periods in the year. This may be a little confusing at first, so lets look at an example to solidify the concept:
As you can see, even though a bank may have quoted you a rate of 5%, 7%, or 9% depending on the frequency of compounding (this may differ depending on the bank, state, country, etc), you could actually pay a much higher rate. In the case of a bank quoting an APR of 9%, this does not consider the effects of compounding. However, if you were to consider the effects of monthly compounding, as APY does, you will pay 0.38% more on your loan each year - a significant amount when you are amortizing your loan over a 25- or 30-year period.
This example should illustrate the importance of asking your potential lender what rate he or she is quoting when seeking a loan. It is also important when comparing borrowing prospects to compare apples to apples so to speak (comparing the same figures), so that you can make the most informed decision.
The Lenders Perspective
Now as you may have already guessed, it is not hard to see how standing on the other side of the lending tree can affect your results in an equally significant fashion, and how banks and other institutions will often entice individuals by quoting APY. Just as individuals who are seeking loans want to pay the lowest possible rate of interest, the same individual wants to receive the highest rate of interest when they themselves are the lender.
For example, suppose that you are shopping around for a bank to open a savings account with; obviously, you are seeking the highest rate of interest. It is in the banks best interest to quote you the APY, as opposed to the APR. They want to quote the highest possible rate they can to entice you with to their bank. They are much less likely to quote you the APR because this rate is lower than the APY given that there is some compounding during the year.
Again, it is important for the individual to acknowledge the distinction between these two rates, because they can significantly affect that amount of interest that can be accumulated in a savings account.
It should be noted that different countries have different rules and regulations in place to combat some of the unscrupulous activity surrounding quoting rates that has arisen in the past; however, there is no better insulator against these ruses than knowledge.
Summary
Whether you are shopping for a loan or seeking the highest rate of return on a savings account, be mindful of the different rates that a bank or institution quotes. Depending on which side of the lending tree you stand on, banks and institutions have different motives for quoting different rates. Always ensure you understand which rates they are quoting and then compare the equivalent rates between alternatives.
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Investigation of Fraud or Other Criminal Activities — There is an investigation of fraudulent or other criminal activity involving the company, its securities or insiders. When OTC Markets becomes aware of such investigation, the companies’ securities may be subject to Caveat Emptor.
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The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulates broker-dealers that operate in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Many equity securities, corporate bonds, government securities, and certain derivative products are traded in the OTC market.
The Financial Characteristics Of A Successful Company
It is often debated whether a commonly perceived good company, as defined by characteristics, such as competitive advantage, above-average management and market leadership, is also a good company to invest in. While these characteristics of a good company can point toward a good investment, this article will explain how to evaluate the companys financial characteristics to make a final decision. (For further reading on the other characteristics, see 3 Secrets Of Successful Companies.)
Tutorial: Top Stock Picking Strategies
Background
The world of stock picking has evolved. What was once the duty of traditional stock analysts has become an internet phenomenon; stocks are now analyzed by all kinds of people, using all kinds of methods. Furthermore, the speed at which information now travels around the world, has led to increased volatility in stock prices and changes in the way that stocks are evaluated, at least in the short-term. In addition, the advent of self-directed 401(k)s, IRAs and investment accounts, has empowered individual investors to get more involved in the selection of stocks to buy. (Read House Your Retirement With Self-Directed Real Estate IRAs for more on this investment vehicle.)
While the short-term process may have changed, the characteristics of a good company to buy stock in have not. Earnings, return on equity (ROE) and their relative value compared to other companies, are timeless indicators of companies that might be good investments.
Earnings
Earnings are essential for a stock to be considered a good investment. Without earnings, it is difficult to evaluate what a company is worth, except for its book value. While current earnings may have been overlooked during the internet stock boom, investors, whether they knew it or not, were buying stocks in companies that were expected to have earnings in the future. Earnings can be evaluated in any number of ways, but three of the most prominent metrics are growth, stability and quality (Read more about the dotcom boom and other crazes that went wrong in Crashes: What Are Crashes And Bubbles?)
Earnings Growth
Earnings growth is usually described as a percentage, in periods like year-over-year, quarter-over-quarter and month-over-month. The basic premise of earnings growth is that the current reported earnings should exceed the previous reported earnings. While some may say that this is backward-looking and that future earnings are more important, this metric establishes a pattern that can be charted and tells a lot about the companys historic ability to grow earnings. (Read about how earnings can be linked to future growth in PEG Ratio Nails Down Value Stocks.)
While the pattern of growth is important, like all other valuation tools, the relative relationship of the growth rate matters, as well. For example, if a companys long-term earnings growth rate is 5% and the overall market averages 7%, the companys number is not that impressive. On the flip side, an earnings growth rate of 7%, when the market averages 5%, establishes a pattern of growing earnings faster than the market. This measure on its own is only a start, though; the company should then be compared to itsindustry and sector peers. (For related reading, see Five Tricks Companies Use During Earnings Season.)
Earnings Stability
Earnings stability is a measure of how consistently those earnings have been generated. Stable earnings growth typically occurs in industries where growth has a more predictable pattern. Earnings can grow at a rate similar to revenue growth; this is usually referred to as top-line growth and is more obvious to the casual observer. Earnings can also grow, because a company is cutting expenses to add to the bottom line. It is important to verify where the stability is coming from, when comparing one company to another. (For further reading, see Revenue Projections Show Profit Potential.)
Earnings Quality
Quality of earnings factors heavily into the evaluation of a companys status. This process is usually left to a professional analyst, but the casual analyst can take a few steps to determine the quality of a companys earnings. For example, if a company is growing its earnings, but has declining revenues and increasing costs, you can be guaranteed that this growth is an accounting anomaly and will, most likely, not last. (Read more in Earnings: Quality Means Everything.)
Return On Equity
Return on equity (ROE) measures the effectiveness of a companys management to turn a profit on the money that its shareholders have entrusted it with. ROE is calculated as follows:
ROE = Net Income / Shareholders Equity
ROE is the purest form of absolute and relative valuation and can be broken down even further. Like earnings growth, ROE can be compared to the overall market and then to peer groups in sectors and industries. Obviously, in the absence of any earnings, ROE would be negative. To this point, it is also important to examine the companys historical ROE to evaluate its consistency. Just like earnings, consistent ROE can help establish a pattern that a company can consistently deliver to shareholders. (For more on this topic, read Keep Your Eyes On The ROE, Earnings Power Drives Stocks and Profitability Indicator Ratios: Return On Equity.)
While all of these characteristics may lead to a sound investment in a good company, none of the metrics used to value a company should be allowed to stand alone. Dont make the common mistake of overlooking relative comparisons when evaluating whether a company is a good investment. (For further reading, see Peer Comparison Uncovers Undervalued Stocks and Relative Valuation: Dont Get Trapped.)
Where to Find Information
In order to compare information across a broad spectrum, data needs to be gathered. The internet can be a good place to look, but you have to know where to find it. Since the majority of information on the internet is free, the debate is whether to use the free information or subscribe to a service. A rule of thumb is the old adage, You get what you pay for. For example, if you are looking at comparing earnings quality across a market sector, a free website would probably provide just the raw data to compare. While this is a good place to start, it might behoove you to pay for a service that will scrub the data or point out the accounting anomalies, enabling a clearer comparison. (What youre getting isnt easy to determine. Find out how to get your moneys worth in Investment Services Stump Investors.)
The Bottom Line
While there are many ways to determine if a company that is widely regarded as good, is also a good investment, examining earnings and ROE are two of the best ways to draw a conclusion. Earnings growth is important, but its consistency and quality need to be evaluated to establish a pattern. ROE is one of the most basic valuation tools in an analysts arsenal, but should only be considered the first step in evaluating a companys ability to return a profit on shareholders equity. Finally, all of this consideration will be in vain if you dont compare your findings to a relative base. For some companies, a comparison to the overall market is fine, but most should be compared to their own industries and sectors.
These three levels also happen to correspond to the beliefs of the fundamentalists, technicians and random walkers.
For thou convenience $MTLK BarChart Technical Analysis NITE-LYNX
http://www.barchart.com/technicals/stocks/MTLK
Firms may also negotiate trades over the phone. While the same process and rules apply, the speed with which trades are executed is inherently slower than OTC Link.
How To Choose Stocks For Day Trading
Day trading is a specific trading technique where a trader buys and/or sells a financial instrument multiple times over the course of a day, to exploit minute volatility in the assets pricing. While private investors may practice this investment strategy, it is more commonly an institutional phenomenon, as a financial institution can highly leverage its transactions to boost its profitability. As many brokerages allow for trading online, day trading can be conducted from virtually anywhere, with only a few necessary tools and resources. However, day trading is inherently a highly risky investment strategy.
High Liquidity and Volatility
Liquidity, in financial markets, refers to the relative ease with which a security is obtained, as well as the degree by which the price of the security is affected by its trading. Stocks that are more liquid are more easily day traded; moreover, liquid stocks tend to be more highly discounted than other stocks and are, therefore, cheaper. In addition, equity offered by corporations with higher market capitalizations are often more liquid than corporations with lower market caps, as it is easier to find buyers and sellers for the stock in question.
Stocks that exhibit more volatility lend themselves to day trading strategies , as well. For example, a stock may be volatile if its issuing corporation experiences more variance in its cash flows. While markets will anticipate these changes for the most part, when extenuating circumstances transpire, day traders can capitalize on asset mispricing, such as the currently ongoing euro crisis. Uncertainly in the marketplace creates an ideal day trading situation.
Trading Volume and Trade Volume Index (TVI)
The volume of the stock traded is a measure of how many times it is bought and sold in a given time period. This time period is most commonly within a day of trading. More volume indicates interest in a stock, whether that interest is of a positive or negative nature. Oftentimes, an increase in the volume traded of a stock is indicative of price movement that is about to transpire. Day traders frequently use the Trade Volume Index (TVI) to determine whether or not to buy into a stock, which measures the amount of money flowing in and out of an asset.
Financial Services
Financial services corporations provide excellent day-trading stocks. Bank of America, for example, is one of the most highly traded stocks per shares traded per trading session. BoA is a prime candidate for day trading, despite the banking system being viewed with increasing skepticism, as the industry has demonstrated systemic speculative activity, culminating in JP Morgans $2 billion derivative gaffe.
In addition, Bank of Americas trading volume is high, making it a relatively liquid stock. For the same reasons, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan
Financial Analysis
The final step to this analysis process would be to take apart the financial statements and come up with a means of valuation. Below is a list of potential inputs into a financial analysis.
Accounts Payable
Accounts Receivable
Acid Ratio
Amortization
Assets - Current
Assets - Fixed
Book Value
Brand
Business Cycle
Business Idea
Business Model
Business Plan
Capital Expenses
Cash Flow
Cash on hand
Current Ratio
Customer Relationships
Days Payable
Days Receivable
Debt
Debt Structure
Debt:Equity Ratio
Depreciation
Derivatives-Hedging
Discounted Cash Flow
Dividend
Dividend Cover
Earnings
EBITDA
Economic Growth
Equity
Equity Risk Premium
Expenses Good Will
Gross Profit Margin
Growth
Industry
Interest Cover
International
Investment
Liabilities - Current
Liabilities - Long-term
Management
Market Growth
Market Share
Net Profit Margin
Pageview Growth
Pageviews
Patents
Price/Book Value
Price/Earnings
PEG
Price/Sales
Product
Product Placement
Regulations
R
BarChart Technical Analysis NITE-LYNX $OHRP
http://www.barchart.com/technicals/stocks/OHRP
5 Ways To Invest $5,000
In this economy, $5,000 may feel like a lot more money than it did just a few years ago. There are numerous ways that you may find yourself with an extra $5,000: a bonus at work, inheritance, an extra contract job that you werent expecting or a tax refund. Maybe you have it now or youre expecting it soon, but regardless of the time frame, what are you expecting to do with the money? Here are a few ideas that may help.
Pay off Credit Cards
If your household has credit card debt, you have, on average, $15,956 worth. Almost one third of that debt could be wiped out with that $5,000. If your credit card interest rate is average, you are paying 13% ,or $650 each year, to hold that balance. That $5,000 could reduce the interest youre building up by $54 a month. How long was it going to take you to save $5,000 for the sole purpose of paying your credit card debt? If it was two years, you just saved $1,300 making the return on your $5,000 - 26% over two years or 13% per year. Any investor would be very happy with that figure. Although its not necessarily fun, the best return youll get on your money is to service your debt.
High Quality Stocks
Investing in high quality, dividend paying stocks for a long period of time has shown to be a very safe investment. Because its nearly impossible to pick the few correct stocks that will perform better than the overall market, look at an index mutual fund or exchange traded fund (ETF) that tracks the total stock market.
Historic returns for the stock market over the past 50 years have averaged around 10%, making this a good investment, but not nearly as good as paying down debt.
Education
The cost of a college education has risen 130% in the last 20 years, according to USA Today. If you have a two-year old child now, the cost to send your child to college in 16 years will be $95,000, if he or she chooses a college in the state where you are a resident. If your child chooses a private university, the cost rises to as high $340,000, if college inflation rates stay as they are for another 16 years.
The best way to save for college is to use a 529 plan. These tax advantaged college savings accounts are similar to 401(k) plans where you contribute a certain amount into the plan, the money is invested into funds of your choice and you withdraw those funds when the child reaches college age.
Some 529 plans allow you to purchase years of college at todays rates for use when the child reaches college age, but most plans now invest the money without guaranteeing future results. That same $5,000 is a great start to put in a plan like this, and although the returns will average less than the overall stock market , the plan is one of the best ways to save for future college expenses.
Bond ETFs
An ETF is a basket of investment products packaged into one fund. They often come with low fees, yet offer the safety of a diverse portfolio. Some of these ETFs hold bonds, which are historically safer than stocks. Some bond ETFs have dividends of 7% or more and, barring any large investment market event, those dividends are quite safe, because of the hundreds or even thousands of bonds held in these funds. If you choose to invest in Bond ETFs, you may need to ask for help from a trust financial adviser.
Start a Small Business
If your debts are paid, you dont have children or youre well on your way to having your kids college education paid for, consider starting a small business. To get your business off of the ground, $5,000 may not go very far, but some service-type businesses have very little startup costs. Before committing the money to a small business , make sure to carefully weigh the time and financial commitment that will come with this type of endeavor.
Forecasting the annual return is nearly impossible due to the many variables that come with starting a business, but even more important, this might jump-start your dream of becoming an entrepreneur.
The Bottom Line
Even if it isnt $5,000, before deciding how to utilize a larger sum of money that found its way into your bank account, think more long term. Sure, you could purchase the big TV that youve wanted for a long time but is that the best decision to make for years to come?
Each unit of measure is the same throughout the entire scale. If a stock advances from 10 to 80 over a 6-month period, the move from 10 to 20 will appear to be the same distance as the move from 70 to 80. Even though this move is the same in absolute terms, it is not the same in percentage terms.
Short sellers are subject to price manipulation schemes – or short squeezes. In a short squeeze, traders believing that there are a lot of short sellers begin buying shares to force the price and the short sellers losses higher. These traders hope that the short sellers will be forced to buy pushing the price even higher at which point they can sell their shares at a profit. Short squeezes are easier to execute in illiquid securities.
For thou convenience $PSYC BarChart Technical Analysis NITE-LYNX
http://www.barchart.com/technicals/stocks/PSYC
Callable CDs: Check The Fine Print
If youre looking for bigger yields with limited risk, callable certificates of deposit (CD ) might be right for you. They promise higher returns than regular CDs and are FDIC insured. However, there are a few things in the fine print that you should be aware of before you turn your money over to the bank or brokerage firm, otherwise, you could end up very disappointed.
Just like a regular CD, a callable CD is a certificate of deposit that pays a fixed interest rate over its lifetime. The feature that differentiates a callable CD from a traditional CD is that the issuer owns a call option on the CD and can redeem, or call, your CD from you for the full amount before it matures. In this article, we will provide you with some important terms to watch for in the fine print of your callable CDs , should you decide to invest.
Important Terms
Callable CDs are similar in many ways to callable bonds.
Callable Date
This is the date that the issuer can call your certificate of deposit . Lets say, for example, that the call date is six months. This means that six months after you buy the CD, the bank can decide whether it wants to take back your CD and return your money with interest. Every six months after the call date, the bank will have that same option again. Well get to why the bank would want to call back the certificate shortly.
Maturity Date
The maturity date is how long the issuer can keep your money. The farther in the future the maturity date, the higher the interest rate you should expect to receive. Make sure you dont confuse maturity date with the call date. For instance, a two-year callable CD does not necessarily mature in two years. The two years refers to the period of time you have before the bank can call the CD away from you. The actual amount of time you must commit your money could be much longer. Its common to find callable CDs with maturities in the range of 15 to 20 years.
To Call, or Not to Call
A change in prevailing interest rates is the main reason the bank or brokerage firm will recall your CD on the callable date. Basically, the bank will ask itself if its getting the best deal possible based on the current interest rate environment. (To learn how interest rate changes affect other investments , see How Interest Rates Affect The Stock Market and Its In Your Interest.)
Interest Rates Decline
If interest rates fall, the issuer might be able to borrow money for less than its paying you. This means the bank will likely call back the CD and force you to find a new vehicle to invest your money in.
Example - Callable CD When Rates Decline
Suppose you have a $10,000 one-year callable CD that pays 5% with a five-year maturity. As the one-year call date approaches, prevailing interest rates drop to 4%. The bank has therefore dropped its rates too, and is only paying 4% on its newly issued one-year callable CDs.
Why should I pay you 5%, when I can borrow the same $10,000 for 4%?, your banker is going ask. Heres your principal back plus any interest we owe you. Thank you very much for your business.
The good news is that you got a higher CD rate for one year. But what do you do with the $10,000 now? Youve run into the problem of reinvestment risk.
Perhaps you were counting on the $500 per year interest ($10,000 x 5% = $500) to help pay for your annual vacation. Now youre stuck with just $400 ($10,000 x 4% = $400) if you buy another one-year callable CD. Your other choice is to try to find a place to put your money that pays 5% such as by purchasing a corporate bond - but that might involve more risk than you wanted for this $10,000 . (For more on the risks of these bonds, see Corporate Bonds: An Introduction To Credit Risk.)
Interest Rates Rise
If prevailing interest rates increase, your bank probably wont call your CD. Why would it? It would cost more to borrow elsewhere.
Example - Callable CD When Rates Rise
Lets look at your $10,000 one-year callable CD again. Its paying you 5%. This time, assume that prevailing rates have jumped to 6% by the time the callable date hits. Youll continue to get your $500 per year, even though newly issued callable CDs earn more. But what if youd like to get your money out and reinvest at the new, higher rates?
Sorry, your banker says, only we can decide if youll get your money early.
Unlike the bank, you cant call the CD and get your principal back - at least not without penalties called early surrender charges. As a result, youre stuck with the lower rate. If rates continue to climb while you own the callable CD, the bank will probably keep your money until the CD matures.
What to Watch For
Whos Selling
Anyone can be a deposit broker to sell CDs. There are no licensing or certification requirements. This means you should always check with your states securities regulator to see whether your broker or your brokers company has any history of complaints or fraud.
Early Withdrawal
If you want to get your money before the maturity date, there is a possibility youll run into surrender charges. These fees cover the maintenance costs of the CD and are put in place to discourage you from trying to withdraw your money early. You wont always have to pay these fees; if you have held the certificate for a long enough period of time these fees will often be waived.
Check the Issuer
Each bank or thrift institution depositor is limited to $100,000 in FDIC insurance. There is a potential problem if your broker invests your CD money with an institution where you have other FDIC insured accounts. If the total is more than $100,000, you run the risk of exceeding your FDIC coverage. (To learn more, read Are Your Bank Deposits Insured?)
Wrap Up: Callable or Non-Callable?
With all of the extra hassle they involve, why would you bother to purchase a callable CD rather than a non-callable one? Ultimately, callable CDs shift the interest-rate risk to you, the investor. Because youre taking on this risk, youll tend to receive a higher return than youd find with a traditional CD with a similar maturity date.
Before you invest, you should compare the rates of the two products. Then, think about which direction you think interest rates are headed in the future. If you have concerns about reinvestment risk and prefer simplicity, callable CDs probably arent for you.
Use this checklist when you are shopping for callable CDs to help you keep track of the important information.
Callable CD Checklist
Traditional CD Callable CD #1 Callable CD #2
Callable Date N/A
Maturity Date
Seller Background
Surrender Fee
Issuer
Interest Rate
Once a scenario for the overall economy has been developed, an investor can break down the economy into its various industry groups
The best way to illustrate the OTC market trading process is to step through a specific example. This example is tailored for individual investors, although many of the same principles apply to institutional investors.
$HLOSF BarChart Technical Analysis NITE-LYNX
http://www.barchart.com/technicals/stocks/HLOSF
Strategists are hired to predict the direction of the market and various sectors.
10 Golf Tips To Help Investors Tee Off
Avid golfers appreciate the game of golf for its unhurried pace, the chance to enjoy the outdoors with clients during business hours and the addictive feeling of making a great shot.
There are actually a lot of similarities between the game of golf and investing. So, if you golf, youve already got a head start on understanding how to make your money grow. Read on to find out what the game of golf can teach you about investing.
1. Dont Let Your Mind Interfere With the Game
Golfers who let their emotions run wild will be on the fast track to having all balls in the rough, out of bounds or in the sand. In much the same way, investors cannot be ruled by their emotions. Fear, greed and overconfidence are powerful emotions that can lead an investor to make poor investment decisions.
For example, an exceptionally risk-averse investor might sell a position that has lost 10% of its value within a short period, only for it to recover shortly thereafter. Alternatively, an exceptionally confident investor might believe he can consistently beat the market - resulting in more trades, higher trading fees and lower overall gains.
2.Learn from the Masters
Avid golfers can learn a lot of tips from golf greats such as Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, whose golf swings have been studied by both amateur and professional golfers. Similarly, novice and sophisticated investors can learn a lot from investing giants such as Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch and George Soros.
The strategies that these investors followed vary widely, and can allow you to gauge the type of investing strategy that is best suited for your risk tolerance and goals.
3. Be Wary of Friendly Advice
Stock tips from friends are similar to golf tips from friends - you may have no way of knowing whether your friends a duffer. The hot stock tip you hear that is sure to be a winner could land your net worth in the bunker if you dont perform further research into the validity of the claim.
4. Find a Good Caddy
Unlike the hobo caddy that Adam Sandlers character used in the 1996 movie Happy Gilmore, golf pros dont use just anyone to caddy for them during a big tournament. Good caddies have a strong knowledge of the golf game, and can advise the player on various strategies that might be useful for a particular hole. Caddies also have a strong understanding of the players personality and style, and have a goal to keep the players emotions in check.
In much the same way, a good financial advisor has exceptional knowledge of the stock market and investing, and will get to know their clients in order to understand what investment strategies are the best fit for their clients future goals.
5. Watch for Red Flags
When golfing, a red flag indicates the hole, but an overlooked red flag in investing could put your investments in the hole. Before you invest your hard-earned money, be sure you read the prospectus.
6. Play the Percentages
In golf, making a conservative play and laying up in front of water is usually the best choice rather than trying to hit a hole-in-one. In the same way, buying penny stocks in order to land a tenbagger is not usually the best choice.
In essence, play the percentages. Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) and General Electric (NYSE:GE) were once-in-a-lifetime tenbaggers at one point, and you have a limited probability of landing a penny stock whose value increases 10 times in a short period. Furthermore, penny stocks are highly speculative due to their small market capitalization, and limited disclosure.
7. There Are No Mulligans
Unlike that second shot your partner might let you take during a friendly round of golf, there really are no mulligans allowed in professional golf games, or in the world of finance.
Take your time before you make an investment; there is no second chance if you make a poor investment decision. If youre unsure, seek the advice of a financial planner or advisor who can help you devise an investment strategy that is best suited for your situation.
8. Practice, Practice, Practice
Pro golfers such as Tiger Woods and Angel Cabrera didnt get to the Masters without a lot of practice and training - and as professional athletes, they never stop trying to improve.
Just as the driving range and countless hours on the golf course have helped the pros hone their skills, you can do the same by practicing your investing strategy with a simulated stock market game. (If you are ready to invest $100,000 risk-free, visit the Investopedia Simulator.)
9. One Good (Or Bad) Game Doesnt Indicate Future Success
One round of golf is not going to be an indicator of your overall performance at golf. If you have one bad game, it does not mean youre a terrible golfer. Your progress over a number of years playing golf is a much better indicator of success.
A quote from Peter Lynchs book One Up on Wall Street (1989) about his experience with Subaru demonstrates this: If Id bothered to ask myself, How can this stock go any higher? I would have never bought Subaru after it already went up twentyfold. But I checked the fundamentals, realized that Subaru was still cheap, bought the stock, and made sevenfold after that.
The point is to base a decision on future potential, rather than on what has already happened in the past.
10. Fancy Equipment Doesnt Guarantee Success
Just because you decide to splurge on a custom set of clubs does not mean youll be winning tournaments and rubbing shoulders with the pros at the Masters. Nor does it increase your likelihood of landing a hole-in-one.
In the same vein, purchasing expensive trading software does not mean you will find winning investments every time. There really is no foolproof way to pick investments. Fundamental and technical analysis might glean the probability of where an investment is headed (just as that custom driver might give you a longer drive), but in essence, price movements are largely unpredictable – especially for equities. (Learn more about choosing investments in our Stock-Picking Strategies tutorial.)
Conclusion
So, the next time youre about to tee off, it might be a good time to take a step back and consider how much you already know about investing through the game of golf. With that in mind, the task of getting your investments in order might not be as daunting as you originally thought.
The OTCQX tier includes both multinational companies seeking access to U.S. investors and domestic growth companies.[12] To be traded on this tier, companies undergo a qualitative review by OTC Markets Group.[13] Companies are not required to be registered with or reporting to the SEC, but must post financial information with OTC Markets Group.
Behold the $BULM BarChart Technical Analysis NITE-LYNX
http://www.barchart.com/technicals/stocks/BULM
The 4 Ways To Buy And Sell Securities
One key aspect in investing that we sometimes overlook is how to buy different securities. With the introduction of lower commission rates, loosening of regulatory regulations and increased public interest in investing, the financial industry is blooming with different avenues for buying and selling stocks, bonds and mutual funds. In North America, there are four main avenues of transacting investment securities:
1. through brokerages,
2. directly from the company that issues them,
3. through banks and
4. through individual investors.
TUTORIAL: Bond Basics
Brokerage Houses
One of the most common, and easiest, ways of buying and selling stocks, mutual funds and bonds is through a brokerage house. These companies typically require you to open an account with them, and deposit funds as an act of good faith. Brokerages are popular because they, rather than you, do much of the behind-the-scenes work, allowing you to focus on when and what to buy or sell. They look after things like completing the paperwork involved in transferring the ownership of stock, and ensuring dividend payments. (Choosing the right broker is an important first step for new investors. Find out what to look for in Picking Your First Broker.)
Brokers are classified into two different classes. Here we discuss the differences in the ways in which these two classes of brokerages transact orders.
Full-Service Broker
In the past, this was the main method for investors to enter into the securities market. Investors would simply contact their full-service brokers, and have them purchase different stocks and bonds. These transactions are quite straightforward, and full-service brokers will typically call their clients and provide recommendations for buying or selling particular securities.
Today, these brokers are not quite as popular, but with so many different investment products available, almost all full-service brokers are able to transact stocks, bonds and mutual funds. (To learn more about what this type of broker has to offer, read Full-Service Brokerage Or DIY?)
Discount Broker
Discount brokerages have become increasingly popular with investors thanks to their ever-decreasing commission fees. These brokerages, like large supermarkets, provide investors with almost everything they need at a low cost. However, this also means that investors have to do most of the work themselves. At almost all discount brokerages, you can buy stocks, bonds or mutual funds either by calling one of the investment representatives, or by transacting these securities yourself on the internet.
The commission for calling in to a discount broker will cost more than completing the transaction online, but the motions are all pretty much the same. First, you have to enter an order ticket. Dont be intimidated - the order ticket merely states the type of security you want to purchase (whether its a bond, stock or mutual fund), the price you want to buy it for, the quantity you would like to buy and the duration for which you want to leave the order valid (e.g., one day to one month). The order ticket must be completed, whether by yourself, on your computer, or by your broker, while getting your instructions over the telephone. After everything is filled out completely and correctly, the order is sent to the exchange, where the stock, bond or mutual fund is bought or sold at whatever terms are on the order ticket.
Directly from the Business
More often than not, the method of transacting directly with the issuing company is more difficult than buying and selling securities through the broker; albeit transacting directly does have advantages.
When evaluating this transaction method, there are a few unique considerations. First, are you comfortable with holding the securities yourself? When you buy stocks and bonds directly from the issuer, they will be held in certificates, either in bearer form or registered form, which means you are responsible for the safekeeping of the security. If you lose a security in bearer form, there is no way to retrieve it - the person who finds it is the proud new owner of your stock. If you lose a security in registered form you must, to be issued a new certificate, undertake the process of contacting the issuing company. This problem or concern, however, doesnt arise with mutual funds because you dont actually hold units individually.
Second, do you need access to the funds immediately? When you are selling mutual funds, you usually have to wait three days after the transaction date before you can receive any cash. This is irrespective of whether you bought into the fund with a brokerage or with the actual issuing firm. The wait for stocks and bonds, however, can be significantly longer. If you want to sell instruments that are in registered form, you have to sign the back of each certificate, and then send them to the issuing company before you can receive any cash. Obviously theres always some concern about whether the certificates will get there in a timely and complete manner.
Third, how important is the price of purchase or sale to you? If you are a penny pincher and like to buy stocks, bonds and mutual funds for the cheapest possible market price, dealing directly with the business may not be suitable for you. Freedom to choose a transacting price becomes limited when you buy directly from the company. When you buy stocks and bonds directly from an issuer, you will typically have to buy them at a price set by the issuer and sell them back at another set price.
After taking the above into account, here are some advantages to buying and selling direct. Businesses typically have few restrictions on the minimum number of units being purchased. Some brokerages require minimum initial mutual fund purchases of $1,000, whereas if you buy directly from the issuer, the minimum can go down to $500 or less. Additionally, you dont need to have an account, which sometimes require a minimum balance and penalizes long-term investors with inactivity fees.
Banks
Although most banks dont sell stocks, they do offer mutual funds and bonds, but their selection will be limited to funds offered by the bank itself, or through its partners. Banks also provide for a convenient location to buy bonds and mutual funds: you can simply walk to just about any corner bank and purchase these investments on the spot.
When you do go into a bank, the representative helping you should be able to tell you the different characteristics and minimum purchase amounts of the products that are available for purchase.
Person to Person
Theoretically, you can buy and sell securities individually (outside of an exchange). Suppose that a friend of yours has a stock that you would like to buy, or a relative who needs the funds immediately would like to sell you a bond; it can be done. But, this method of transacting securities poses a significant risk; you must trust the person with whom you are dealing with, and make sure you are not being scammed - for instance, you could be sold a false, laser-copied certificate.
If you are decided upon doing this type of transaction, you will, for most stocks and bonds, only have to sign the back of the certificates, and then they can be sold to another party. If you are trying to buy them, the other party will have to sign them over to you. After the security certificates are signed, they must then be sent back to the company to be reregistered under the name of the new owner.
Conclusion
There are many ways to buy and sell securities, but they all provide different advantages, difficulties and risks. Whether you decide to deal with a full-service or discount broker, issuing company, bank, friend or a relative, there are many options out there. Just make sure that youve done your homework to find out which route is best for you.
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