When you buy a stock, you're buying part ownership of a company and an opportunity to partake in its successes (or failures) over time, but it can be hard to compare different stocks. A company’s earnings per share (EPS), price-to equity ratio (P/E) and other ratios can help you compare companies of different sizes.
When thinking about investing, one consideration is whether to invest funds all at once or over a period of time. If you choose the latter route, you might be opting for an investment strategy called dollar-cost averaging, in which you invest your money in equal portions, at regular intervals, regardless of the ups and downs in the market.
In a pump-and-dump scheme, fraudsters accumulate stock, spread positive—but false—information to “pump” up the price, then eventually “dump” their shares, often causing unsuspecting investors to lose money when the stock price then sharply declines. Learn how to recognize and protect yourself against pump-and-dump schemes.
Investment accounts are those that hold stocks, bonds, funds and other securities, as well as cash. A key difference between an investment account and a bank account is that the value of assets in an investment account fluctuates and can, in fact, decline.
FINRA requires firms to report short interest positions in all customer and proprietary accounts in all equity securities twice a month. All short interest positions must be reported by 6 p.m. Eastern Time on the second business day after the reporting settlement date designated by FINRA.See the schedule of reporting dates below.2024 Short Interest Reporting
When you enter an order to buy or sell a stock, your registered financial professional must decide where to route your order. The most familiar type of execution venue is a traditional exchange. However, other execution venues, including alternative trading systems, single-dealer platforms and wholesalers, have risen in popularity in recent years.
(a) Stock certificates delivered in settlement of contracts:
(1) in which the transaction is for 100 shares may be in one certificate for the exact number of shares or certificates totaling 100 shares.
(2) in which the transaction is greater than 100 shares and a multiple of 100 shall be in the exact amount of the contract, or in multiples of 100 shares, or in amounts from which units of 100
Stop orders are a type of market order that can limit your exposure if the price of a stock you have an interest in changes beyond the price point that you set. But stop orders can introduce distinct risks of their own, especially during times of market volatility.
Frequently asked questions related to OATS reporting requirements to OTC NMS Stocks.
