Stock Trading

There was a time in our recent history that investing in utility stocks was like opening up a pass book savings account. Today, the investor needs to be more cognizant of the companies compliance with various regulations and their current stance on applying new and efficient technology. The increase in demand and a need for power plants and distribution has placed a burden on the utilities sector.

Some utility companies employ a combination of energy producing resources. Some rely on coal, hydro electrical plants and the occasional nuclear plant. Many rely on their natural gas reserves and electricity contracts with their producers to provide power to their customers. In effect the utility is a reseller of power sources.

Investing in Public Utility Companies:

Some good work horse utility companies are on the stock market. In seeking out the security of a public utility stock you may be interested in dividends. For some investors the utility is a relatively secure method of investing for the long term and part of a retirement plan.

One example of a good utility stock is American Electric Power Company. It trades on the NYSE under the stock ticker AEP. This is a public utility holding company that transmits, generates and distributes power to a variety of utility companies. Some of these utility companies are cooperatives, municipal power companies and smaller utility companies.

AEG is a 17.7 billion dollar market cap company. It has been a consistent performer for over 30 years and its major institutional investors read like a who's who on Wall Street. It is better than 93 percent of all stocks listed on the S& P 500. The stock is a consistent performer and sells in the range of $40 to $51 for the last year. In November, 2006 the price was in the high $30 range, but has moved to the $40 ranges in recent months. It consistently issues a small dividend. It currently sells for $44.48 a share and should rise to its first target of $49 with ease.

There are other holding companies that may be of interest to the investor with a desire to invest in utilities. Duke Power that trades under the stock ticker DUK is a multi billion dollar company. Another l00 year old company is Constellation Energy Group in Baltimore, Maryland. The significant aspect of investing in power companies is whether the company is in compliance with various regulations pertaining to clean air and water. The cost to update facilities is costly. Most of the major players in power have already commenced updating their facilities.

Investing in Diversified Utility Companies:

There are some very good diversified utility companies that are consistent performers. Wisconsin Power & Electric trades on the NYSE as WEP. This company is a consistent performer and recently provide a large credit to its customers. It has a 5.9 billion market capitalization. The company is owned by some of the biggest funds in the country. It sells for $44 and has a mean target of $50.

Two other good good diversified utility companies are Integrys Energy Group stock ticker TEG and Alliant Energy that trades under the ticker LNT. There is a price difference in the companies, but both utilities are multi-billion dollar companies. Both have a blue ribbon groups of institutional investors.

All of the utility companies listed require some analysis to determine if the company fits your investment portfolio. The utility sector has some pressure due to world wide considerations and the demand of end users. The key is if the company is poised for future growth by enhancing its infrastructure and distribution methods.

The diversified portfolio has a small position in the gold market. For some investing in gold means holding gold coins. Some speculators buy gold contact futures on the commodity exchange. Future contracts are risky because you are betting that the price of gold will go higher in the future. The contract requires a relatively small up front payment, but there can be daily fluctuations that require you have funds to back the dips in the price of daily gold.

The reasons investors have been interested in gold is that the old reasoning was that if the stock market was down the gold market was generally up. This reasoning has become a possibility, but not an axiom of the current marketplace. The weakness in the dollar generally brings a surge in the price of gold. The current price for gold is in the range of $670. Prices have fluctuated within a range of $664 and the current high of $672. Traders think gold could easily go as high as $1,000 an ounce.

Investing in gold stocks and precious metal index funds can be purchased through a stock broker. A stock broker specializing in this area is very important because the investment needs savvy investment advice. Most of the larger brokerage houses have individuals that are specialized in the area of commodities and precious metal stocks.

There are certain international gold stocks that are noteworthy. A Canadian based international player in the gold market is Agnico-Eagle Mines. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock ticker AEM. The stock is also sold on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This company has more than a thirty year history in the production of gold. Since the 1970s AEM has produced over four million ounces of gold. The company is international and has operations in Canada, United States, Mexico, Sweden and Finland.

Other noteworthy gold stocks include; Barrick Gold Corp, Goldcorp Inc., Kinross Gold Corp., and Newmont Mining. All of these gold stocks are currently trading on the upside, but it is advisable for all investors to make sure these stocks fit your investment risk potential.

In recent years the price of gold has been as low as the $450 an ounce range. Since the late 1970s gold has made huge profits for holders of gold. The key to owning gold is to know the various resistance points and to assess the global market for the use of gold. It is used primarily in jewelry manufacturing and other types of manufacturing. Currently in India there is a small slow down in the use of gold for jewelry making. The same applies to a degree in China. Whether it is enough of a slow down to effect the price of gold is uncertain.

Investors who trade in gold should seek the advice of an analyst that can factor in all the various aspects that effect the price of gold. If you own gold as a hedge against a weak dollar you should look for any strengthening in the dollar. The important thing to remember is to gage your investment in gold to a level that you are comfortable. If you bought spot gold at $600 an ounce, you might consider a rise to $720 a good profit. The ride to $1,000 an ounce may be bumpy and there is no telling when it will reach that level if it does as speculators have gambled.

There are numerous gold mining stocks on the market and if you are interested in a small investment you can find these stocks in the $5 to $12 range The smaller gold mining stocks do carry a risk because a great deal of overhead goes into making a mining company profitable.

The range of risk and amount you decide to invest in gold is a personal choice. It is always
advisable to seek the expert advise of a stock expert or commodity expert before leaping into this market. Another sage piece of advise I learned is to trust my sense of cashing out before the price of gold drops significantly due to outside pressures or manipulations.

If you are a person who loves to gamble consider buying casino and gaming industry stocks. As you know the "House" always wins. Some of the stocks are healthy investments because there is real estate and other merchandise involved. Instead of feeding your quarters into a machine think about investing in the company.

MGM Mirage has a huge presence in the casino, hotel and entertainment industry in Las Vegas. It also has hotels and casinos in Michigan, Mississippi, and Macau S.A.R. Recently MGM Mirage signed a long term strategic relationship agreement with Dubai World. The company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MGM. The stock sells in the price range of $83.

Boyd Gaming Corp. may not be familiar to you, but the company has a large presence in Las Vegas. It owns and operates 11 properties in and around Las Vegas. It also acquired Coast Casinos in Louisiana and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Boyd Gaming Corp. The stock is sold on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BYD. The price is in the $40 range per share. Boyd Gaming Corp. is expected to make steady gains over the next three years.

WPT Enterprises, Inc is a company you may know what it produces but not necessarily that much about the company. WPT Enterprises, Inc produces the World Poker Tour and owns the rights to television broadcasting and products branded under the WPT Enterprises Inc name. It is a joint venture between some notables in the gaming industry and Lakes Entertainment Inc. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the stock ticker WPTE. The stock sells in the $3.50 per share range, but who knows it may be a sure fire bet in the long term. There is a great deal of public interest in the World Poker Tour.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. is a well known name in the hotel, casino, and resorts industry. It has been in existence for over 60 years. It may be one of the largest influences in Las Vegas business ventures. Recently it moved forward on its plan to build a world class sports arena on the Sunset Strip. Additionally Harrah's is involved in the development of a master development plan for Las Vegas. The stock is sold on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HET. The stock sells in the range of $85 per share. One thing for sure, Harrah's will be around for the long ride.

All of these stocks provide an avenue of investment for the gambler. The key is to watch the stocks and determine when you want to buy stocks. Timing is everything in this sector. In addition to casino and resort stocks there are some excellent technology stocks. This is the area of the gambling sector that supports the casinos in developing new technology for the gaming industry. The field of gaming technology is always on the move due to new innovations. Whether the casino is making big money or not, the need for new products is essential to attracting new customers.

The key to any relationship particularly when it comes to money is choosing someone you can trust. A stock broker is essentially your agent in charge of your money. The main role of a stock broker is to provide the investor with timely good advice on picking the right investment for you and your money.

A stock broker must be qualified to sell equities. In order to be certified the stock broker must be educated and pass state administered tests. Aside from the basic minimum qualifications a stock broker has a track record in his or her handling of stock portfolios.

A smart investor will ask the potential stock broker about his accounts for the past five years. Questions that require the stock broker candidate to discuss their investment strategy. What stock picks has he or she made that turned a profit. What stock picks did not show gains, but losses. If the stock broker works for a brokerage house and most do, ask about the clients of the firm.

The stock broker is like any professional you would hire to perform a service. You are interviewing a candidate who will not only advise you on stocks and other investments, but someone who will take your personal welfare above all other considerations. Have a discussion with several candidates on the phone. The next step is to come up with a short list and have a personal meeting with the candidate stock broker.

There are regulations and government entities that regulate stock brokers in every state. There is arbitration remedies for damages you may incur if the stock broker has acted negligently in the handling of your account. These are bottom line safeguards. You want to pick someone who will never place you in that position.

In your selection process for a stock broker keep in mind the following points:

- A referral from a friend for a stock broker is useful, but not the final word.

- Hiring a friend that is a stock broker can be problematic if a disagreement occurs.

- From the first contact with the stock broker does he or she act attentive and return calls.

- Does the candidate stock broker ask you about your comfort level in investing.

- Does the candidate stock broker provide you with insight into his or her investment strategy.

- Does the candidate stock broker's investment strategy coincide with your ideas about investing.

- Ask the stock broker candidate to explain limit orders and other means of protecting your investment.

Is the candidate stock broker forthright in telling you of in-house stock portfolios. Many brokerage houses have baskets of stocks they promote under the firms name. How has the firm's stock package done over the past four quarters.
When the candidate stock broker is speaking to you does he or she gloss over information or do you get the impression it is a sales pitch. Every stock broker is a sales person, but there are limits in this field.

Finally, never make a decision on the spot. After your meeting face-to-face go home or back to your office and consider your choices. Pay particular attention to your gut reaction after you have left the meeting. Is this someone you trust to carry out your wishes and provide you with sound investment choices.

The avid sports fan has a place in the Stock Market. If you have a passion for sports either as an amateur player or sports fan there are great stocks for you to invest. The sports retail and manufacturing industry is worth billions in revenue. Passions do not come cheap so maybe you can turn your enjoyment into making a few dollars.

Dick's Sporting Goods is a multi sport equipment, apparel and general store. The passion of the owner Dick borrowed $300 from his grandmother and opened a bait and tackle store in 1958. Today Dick's Sporting Goods is located in 34 states with 315 stores. In addition, he owns Golf Galaxy a multi-channel golf specialty retailer with 77 stores. The stock sells on the New York Stock Exchange with the stock ticker DKS. The stock currently sells for about $70 per share. It enjoys a market cap of over 3.5 billion dollars. The stock has some big name holders like Citigroup, Oppenheimer and Goldman Sachs.

Foot Locker Inc. is another sports shoes and apparel shop that has a significant market share of sports market. The stock sells on the NYSE for $16.71 a share. It trades under the stock ticker FL. It has some room to go back up to the $40 range where it belongs. Some weakening in the retail area and other concerns have weighed on this stock. It is a good stock and worth watching.

Cabela's is a Nebraska sports and apparel company that sells on-line. It has store outlets that are an adventure for any shopper. Cabela's is a success story and when the jitters in the market subside it will soar. It is priced currently in the high $20 range and worth every dime. It trades under symbol CAB.

Nike Inc. is a familiar brand name for most sports fans and enthusiasts. The stock is sold on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock symbol is NKE. The company sells apparel, shoes and accessories. The company has a 28.2 billion dollar market share. Nike employs over 32,000 employees. Nike is priced currently at $58 per share. The stock is expected to climb as high as $70 per share. Some of the major holders are Barclay's Global Fund, Fidelity Blue Chip Fund, Vanguard 500 Index Fund and some other blue ribbon funds.

The combined efforts of Molson Brewing Company of Canada and Coors Brewing Company in recent years created the Molson Coors Brewing Company. The market cap and distribution of the company is tremendous. It employs 11,000 people. It has plans to open a new subsidiary. It is going through a shift in upper management, but it is a sold investment to keep on your radar. The stock symbol is TAP and sells in mid to high $80. The company has a blue ribbon list of holders of the stock. Barclays Global Fund, Vanguard Group, and Goldman Sachs are a sample of their investors.

The sports fan has lots of opportunities to invest in their passion and enjoy the game as a participant in the sheer fun of making a few dollar in the process.

The socially conscious investor will find a wide range of Eco-friendly stocks and mutual funds to choose from, both small and large. Due to the influence of world-wide concern over global pollution and carbon dioxide, the investor will find many large corporations are snapping up green companies to add to their list of products.

A recent acquisition by Royal Philips Electronics (headquartered in the Netherlands) of Color Kinetics, trading on the NASDAQ as CLRK is a great example. Color Kinetics was a ten-year-old company that produced environmentally friendly lighting through its enhancement of the LED (light-emitting-diode) technology to create a new type of illumination.

Color Kinetics utilized digitalized technology to create a new source of controllable illumination. The merger between the giant Philips and Color Kinetics will enhance its Philips Lighting Solutions market in the LED technology. Color Kinetic has existing installations world wide and a huge customer list, with relationships in China and the UK. Philips, in turn will, provide its 60-country-presence to the Eco-friendly technology of Color Kinetics. Investors should not rule large conglomerates in their search for Eco-friendly stock.

Small Cap Companies:

For investors that enjoy investing directly in small cap companies there are numerous opportunities for investors in AMEX. These stocks are very reasonable in price and may provide future gains as going green becomes an integral part of business and not just a slogan. I have watched some Eco-friendly companies grow over the past several years and the following is a highlight of some interesting stocks.

Environmental Power Corp. trades under the ticker EPG on the AMEX exchange. This stock currently sells in the $5 range. The company and its subsidiaries engage in the ownership, development and operation of renewable energy facilities in the United States. EPG owns 83 leasehold of land. It has plants that utilize animal and food industry waste to produce bio-mass and other forms of alternative fuel that utilize their renewable energy biogas. A good reason to give this company a good look is that it filed a notice with the SEC that it has a firm commitment from an underwriter to make and offering of over four million shares of his stock. If the offering goes forward the company could realize a gain in the price as well as an infusion of over 22 million dollars.

There is another stock that has great promise in the fuel cell area. This area has room to grow. I particularly like Fuel Cell Energy. It trades under the stock ticker FCEL. The company has a market cap of approximately 650 million. The company is in the development, manufacturing and sale of fuel cells power plants for use in electrical power plants. Its pipeline products are geared for use in health care facilities, hotels, hospitals, universities, governmental offices and water treatment centers. The company is located in Connecticut with office in Korea, Japan, Canada and Europe. This $9 stock has no where to go but up in the long term. Another reason to think twice about this company is the major holders of stock in the company. Wells Fargo Bank, Barclays, Deutsche Bank and other prominent funds are invested in FCEL.

A stock that is a good value, but lacks appreciation is Calgon Carbon Corp. in Pennsylvania. The company trades under the ticker CCC. The company is in the business of providing means to clean the air and water.

The company has been around for a good period of time and it appears that 2007 may be its year to take a solid place in Eco-friendly stocks. It currently sells in the $13 range and deserves a good review.

There are numerous ways to get into the green, Eco-friendly stocks. There are mutual funds and indexes available. In addition there are segments in wind, health foods and solar energy that have opportunities for investment.

China's economy has been soaring for some time. It is possible the growth potential is only at the starting point. During the years of its world seclusion. China as a country amassed trillions of dollars in its coffers. American companies that have relocated some of their operations to China has added even more capital to the China economy. The Chinese are wise investors and do not seem to make a bad deal in any of their financial transactions. China calls the shots in the deal making process.

This year in particular China is going through a massive infra structure and building phase within China to prepare for the 2008 Olympics. This factor has increased China's tremendous building phase in manufacturing aluminum, building trades and the railroad industry. In the area of communication China has stepped up its manufacturing and distribution of products. China also has plans to build a small economy car called the Chery Automobile.

For all the reasons mentioned above and the overall strength of the China economy this could be a good time to buy China stocks. The average American can purchase China stock on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Exchange. The other avenue available is the mutual fund or spider that is geared to Asian or China investments only. These funds do exist and are doing exceptionally well.

Specific China Stocks:

The need for raw materials and manufacturing of materials is a high priority for China. One particular shining star is Aluminum Corp China. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock ticker ACH. This is an $8.7 billion dollar market cap company. It has seen tremendous gains in the past two years. The growth spurt almost seems endless due to China's demand for aluminum and other metals. The stock is currently selling in the high $60 range. The major institutional holders are John Hancock Trust-Natural Resources, Allianz, Goldman Sachs and other prized investor funds.

In the technology areas Chinese companies have some interesting choices. The web company and software technology and mobile phone application company CDC Corp. is a low cost stock to watch. The stock sells under the stock ticker CHINA. It is currently a $6.40 stock that can easily make its mark at $11 and higher. The Olympic 2008 event in Beijing is expected to boost their technologies.

A great information and search engine company is Baidu. It trades under the stock ticker BIDU. For whatever reason the brains on Wall Street love this stock. It sells in the $200 plus range, but it rivals the likes of Google. It is a stock to watch.


Mutual Funds:

The investor looking to invest in China and Asian Markets should definitely consider the mutual funds offered by various family of funds. Nearly all of the large fund companies have a fund that is designed for for exposure to the growth in China. Alger China Growth, Thornburg Global Opportunities, Evergreen Opportunities Fund, American Funds, Oppenheimer and Allianz all have great funds with good returns.

If you are interested in China stocks discuss it with your advisor or ask one of the funds mentioned above to send you a prospectus.

The threshold question before you decide to invest in the stock market is whether you are an investor. For some people the stock market may not be suited to their personality. This article addresses some of the qualities an investor should have in order to make a reasonable return in the stock market.

Sure, there are folk tales you may hear about the guy who bought XYZ Company stock for $5 and sold it 60 days later for $50 a share. This scenario probably has happened , but it is not the reality of being an investor. The following points should be considered when you are considering becoming an investor.

Are you self-disciplined in your thinking?

The first step anyone must take into account is their own personality. Are you objectively a person who is organized in your thinking? Do you know how much money you have to invest? Do you know how to set objectives in your finances? Have you set goals for savings and followed through on those objectives? An investor has to have a clear set of objectives in their choice of investments. Is the amount of money you intend to invest a one time wind fall? Are you able to set aside a certain amount of money each month to investing that is disposable income?

In effect what you will be doing is moving some of your pass book savings to an investment. Patterns development in peoples lives. Are you able to transfer your savings pattern to include a regular investment in the stock market? If you are currently earning a small percentage on your pass book savings account what rate of return would you be satisfied in receiving? The key to investing is to know your expenses and income and decide how much money is disposable income. It is this excess that will be your investment dollars.

Are you able to set goals and listen to good advise?

Once you have determined that investing may be a possible avenue for you to consider the next step is setting goals. A goal is the objective of your investment. It could be for retirement, a vacation home, a rainy day fund or a new boat. Whatever your is determines the type of investing you will be looking for in your research. If it is a long term goal like retirement you may seek a tax exempt municipal bond fund or a mutual fund with certain characteristics. If you want liquidity like a pass book savings account where you can draw money as you need it there are some investments that may fit. The important aspect of this step is to know your objectives and then draw up a budget or a plan.

All of the major fund companies have managers and consultants. Are you able to set forth your objectives and ask for advice in picking out a fund that will fit your needs? This does not mean you need to sign up for the first consultant who takes your call. It means can you listen to advice and make a decision on various alternatives offered to you. After you have gathered all the information you believe is necessary for your decision can you apply your personal goals with the information presented and make a final decision?

This may seem like an odd inquiry, can you make a final decision? Unfortunately, some people will feel quite comfortable going to a car show room and purchase a $30,000 automobile. The color, impression, and internal motivators. But when it comes to investing, the buy is not as dazzling. It takes consideration to commit $30,000 to an investment in paper form even though you may be purchasing stock in the flashy car company.

Can You Let It Go?

It is almost a universal practice to include an arbitration agreement when an investor opens a brokerage account or commodities, mutual fund account. An investor will find that in the process of signing up for a brokerage account there is a standard arbitration agreement contained in the packet of information. This article addresses some of the history of the stock brokerage arbitration agreement and the reasoning behind the agreement. Not all arbitration agreements are alike and therefore if you have any questions about the legality of the agreement you should contact a competent attorney in the field of securities arbitration agreements.

The reasoning behind the accepted practice of arbitrating disputes with your stock broker and mutual fund manager is the notion that arbitration can be handled privately, with a qualified expert arbitrator in a reasonable period of time. While it is not required an investor may file a simple letter complaint. The necessity of hiring an attorney to file the complaint. It may be advisable, but it is not necessary to hire an attorney. The rules and guidelines for arbitration are set forth on the New York Stock Exchange web site or may be requested by mail.

The history of the arbitration agreement in the United States stock exchange has a 200 year history. The Courts and Congress have uniformly favored the arbitration agreement signed when the account is opened. That is not to say that all arbitration agreements are flawless. Some arbitration agreements have been voided for various reasons.

The arbitration provides a forum for disagreements that may occur with the investor and the broker. Disputes may vary in severity, but the key is disclosure of pertinent facts known by the broker that negatively effected the investor. The other reasons are obvious mishandling of a clients funds, failure to act in accordance with the clients orders and fraud like conduct. All of these reasons and variations in between can occur and sometimes do occur in the relationship of client and broker.

There is a Director of Arbitration with the New York Stock Exchange who has the duty to provide the forum and implement rules that govern the arbitration of dispute. The Director has the duty to provide lists of arbitrators who are qualified to hear specific types of disputes. There are securities arbitrators and public interest arbitrators. The Director has the obligation to report to Congress any and all issues regarding the arbitration of disputes. It is designed to be a forum that is friendly to non-broker complainants.

For disputes involving less than $25,000 there is an expedited form of arbitration. For investor complainants over the age of 70 with health issues an expedited handling of disputes may be requested. According to testimony provided by the Director of Arbitration to Congress in 2005 the complaints from investors have increased since 2002. See: Karen Kupersmith, Director of Arbitration New York Stock Exchange to the Finance Committee of Congress, March 17, 2005.

Adjustments in staff and case management were suggested to keep the intent of the New York Stock Exchange vital and up to date for the protection of investors.
The New York Stock Exchange Arbitration has in the past years of 2003 and 2004 awarded the public over 70 and 80 percent of all claims presented. The rule of thumb that most arbitrators use is when applying whether information by a broker should be disclosed is: " If in doubt, disclose," according to Ms. Kupersmith.

The question of whether to sign an agreement to arbitrate is not germane because you will not get an account without the agreement. The question should be is the agreement to arbitrate you are being asked to sign legal and enforceable. That issue may require you to ask for an attorney consultant to review the arbitration agreement. A majority of well known brokerage houses have standard arbitration agreements.

Horror Stories:

There are some really nasty events that can occur between the holder and advisor of your money and you. In recent years, some down right fraud has occured. Some of the bad dealings required the FBI to uncover. Some examples would be a broker who is not licensed and sells bogus securities. Other schemes include churning accounts. The concept of churning means the broker buys and sells stocks on your account to get commission fees not for the benefit of your portfolio. Specious equities and other instruments are offered by a former member of the exchange that turn out to be bogus. All states have an Insurance and Securities Commissioner whose responsibility it is to regulate the activities of brokers and the products that are sold in your state.

If you believe you have a complaint or have concerns about an investment it is advisable to check with your Securities Commissioner or State Attorney General before you invest. It is much easier to avoid a bad investment than to have to undo one.

There are companies that allow an investor to purchase stocks directly from the company. This is perfectly okay according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These are called Direct Stock Plans. It is called a DSPP. The company may require that you already have stocks through employment with the company. It is not required in all companies.

The Direct Stock Plan operates differently than buying stock through a broker. There is no commission charged for these stock plans, but there can be a small fee. The other difference is that the company buys and sells the stock at a given time. The investor cannot sell or trade stocks at will. The investor may turn the stocks over to a broker to sell, but the broker cannot charge a commission. You may be charged a fee by the company. It depends on your agreement.

If you have a favorite company, like the Walt Disney Company, Coca Cola or other brand names in the United State you may be able to implement a Direct Stock Plan to purchase stocks on a regular basis. You can review the list of stocks in your local library or check out the company you are interested in by accessing the company web site.

Another method of investing direct in a company is by way of the Direct Dividend Reinvestment Plan. It is commonly called a DRIP. The good aspect of this type of plan is that instead of receiving the dividends you agree to reinvest the dividends in more stock in the company. It is a regular Direct Stock Plan with a reinvestment agreement. You may do the same reinvestment plan with your other stocks and mutual funds even if you have a broker.

The advantage is that if the company allows a private investor to purchase stocks directly this would allow you to set up a pay check withdrawal each pay period for the purposes of the stock plan. There are various advisory services that can assist you in locating companies that offer these direct stock purchase plan. I would suggest that you find companies you are interested in a make an inquiry with investor relations.

The advantage to contacting the individual company yourself is that it allows you to use your preferences and then do a small amount of leg work. The company representative will give you the necessary forms and provide you with individual advice on how to set up pay roll deduction. In turn you can contact your banking institution, employer human resources or bill payer and set up the account.

It will astound you the number of very good companies that will allow you to buy stocks direct
by setting up a plan. The range of possibilities include, utility companies, fast food stocks, entertainment and retail stocks.

If you have a solid company that has shown solid performance this may be a good option for investing.
The only thing you have to lose is your time. The time it takes in gathering the information has a big payoff. It will save you commission fees and provide you with a long term relationship with your favorite company.

The acronym for a real estate investment trust is a REIT. According to the National Institute of Real Estate Investment Trusts 190 Re Its are currently registered with the SEC and trade on one or more of the New York Stock Exchanges. There are over 900 REITS that are privately held companies.

The advantage to the investor in the REIT is the source of income it provides. Specifically, due to the structure of the REIT it does not accrue corporate tax, instead it returns all of the taxable income to investors. The investor receives a 1099 form for tax purposes and it is therefore taxed like additional income.

The REIT can be designed to fit almost any scenario available in the real property world. It can play the upside and the downside and provide hybrid type coverage. Primarily the REIT is composed of commercial property including shopping malls, apartment complexes and income producing property. It also is packaged with residential real estate of a particular type.

The influence of the REIT has seen increased interests to investors for providing income and a compliment to their portfolio of stocks and bonds. Because of the intricacies of the real estate market and commercial property in particular the investor should consult with a qualified REIT broker or investment advisor. Lists of REITs are available through Morningstar or may be reviewed on-line at the National Institute of Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Troubled waters can be avoided:

The current Summer and Fall 2007 concerns about real estate mortgages and a slow down in some United States real estate markets does not mean the REIT investment is in jeopardy.
There are certain REITS in the United States that are hybrids that afford the investor with security in good times and troubling areas of the market.

It should also be remembered that REITs are available for nearly all of the world real estate markets. In many parts of the world, China, Asia, Europe and Dubai the real estate market in both commercial and residential income property is sizzling. There is stability in these parts of the world for some hefty returns for investors.

Purpose:

The overall purpose of the REIT envisioned by the U.S. Congress was to provide a means for investors and in turn the developers of real estate to mutually benefit from growth. It places the average investor in a position of being a big player with the benefit of a share of the profits. A small investment in a REIT can enhance a portfolio of stocks and bonds. Each investment dollar goes into enhancing or creating the availability of funds for building realty.

Due to the nature of the REIT, it must be organized and structured according to strict guidelines. The SEC guidelines apply to those REITS public traded on the New York Stock Exchange and governs those REITS listed with the exchange. Privately held REITS must comply with IRS standards and other state and federal laws pertaining to trusts.

The REIT is an investment that any investor should consider and review the merits with a trusted financial planner with the expertise in the REIT market world wide.

An initial pubic offering is an IPO. In effect what an IPO does it takes a private company public. It is also a means for an existing company listed on one of the exchanges to spin off or create a new company from its parent company. It all sounds pretty straight forward.

Reasons for going public:

The most obvious reason for a private company to enter the public market is raising immediate liquid assets by way of offering shares in the company. Most private companies would prefer to avoid all of the burden of complying with reporting and other regulations, but sometimes a company needs to expand or generate large sums of money to keep up with competition. The reasons are the advantage of offering a chunk of the company without losing control of the company.

IPOs Past and Present:

Before the acts of a few bad apples like Enron, WorldCom and others IPOs flourished on Wall Street. From the mid 1990s to the early 2000s each day brought a new public offering to the market place. Some weeks two or three new IPOs were introduced to the public market place. There were necessary compliance issues to deal with and prices to set and then the IPO hit the market and the exchanges decided what to do with the new kid on the block. Millions and sometimes more could be generated on the first day of trading.

That was then and now there is Sarbanes-Oxley a piece of legislation that was supposed to prospectively cure the market place of cooked books, fraud and make the investor feel more secure. There are aspects of this curative piece of legislation that has provided for more transparency in corporate America. The auditor independence section makes perfect sense. It seems like common sense you want your auditor to not have a conflict of interest. The area of corporate responsibility for subordinate acts of fraud, errors and omissions makes perfect sense. Disclosure regarding debt and other adverse actions involving the company almost seems like a redundancy with other securities laws.

The effect of the Sarbanes-Oxley and other methods to cut out bad apples is that it costs a great deal of money to take a company public these days. There is the need to hire top notch consultants and extra staff to comply with the ever increasing paper work and internal structural changes. It is not a bad piece of legislation, but it is burdensome for a heretofore small private company to be able to afford. The net effect is that the IPO is an infrequent event on Wall Street. There may be other reasons in addition to Sarbanes-Oxley.

Recently, the Blackstone Group introduced an IPO to the market place. It was priced well, but overall the event was lackluster. It generated some 20 billion dollars, but all of the expectations were overstated from the hoopla that preceded the offering. Perhaps we have simply become jaded.

The IPO is a launch of a newbie. The era of "what's next," may be part of our gilded past. It could be a good thing for the market place or it could signify a final epitaph to the Horatio Alger story which was overblown in the first place.

The simple answer to what is a Hedge Fund is that it is private equity funds which provide a hedge against market conditions. The Hedge Fund is not simple in practice. On a global basis there is over a trillion dollars of private investment capital that can literally invest in any commodity, currency indeses and stocks and bonds. Unlike traditional investing the Hedge Fund may go long or short the market. It is private equity and therefore the gains on transactions for fund owners is taxed differently that normal capital gains taxes.

Essentially the Hedge Fund is formed by individual investors who have a stake in the fund. The buy-in is in the millions. Noted Hedge Fund owners are George Soros and the Blackstone Group founded by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman.

The Blackstone Group is a fairy tale. The Blackstone Group was founded by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarsman. According to the Blackstone Group corporate biography the iniital private funds in 1985 were $400,000. By forging alliances and partnerships with some of the most well-heeled on Wall Street their assets under management are over 88.5 billion dollars.

The Blackstone Group is a world leader in alternative investment strategies and investment counseling. A recent IPO Blackstone Capital Partners raised an additional 21.7 billion dollars.

Hedge Funds are only a segment of the Blackstone Group Investments. The Blackstone Group has a stellar Hedge Fund management in the world market. Its group of Hedge Funds are uniquely tailored for a variety of investment strategies and goals. In fact the Blackstone Group can provide individualized tailoring of a Hedge Fund to fit the needs of large investment endowments and retirement funds. Anyone can purchase a unit of stock in the Blackstone Group through a licensed stock broker. It trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock ticker BX.

Any discussion about Hedge Funds would not be complete without mentioning the financial wizard George Soros. His ability to sense movements in the market place is known throughout the financial world. His Hedge Fund and investment company is Quantum Fund. He senses weaknesses and strengths as only a master financial investor/trader can. In 1992 his legendary move to short the British pound nearly broke the Bank of London is part of the lore of George Soros. He can play the upside or the downside of any market. Some may call it a sixth sense, but it is an all encompassing ability to assess with precision the reality of the market and stengths of the underlying values with the reactions of the wild and crazy speculator will do. It is this investor saavy that has placed him in the Forbes wealthiest category.

There are thousands of Hedge Funds available in the various market places. Lately some have not done as well due to the roller coaster ride that has occured. This is the time when the true test of a Hedge Fund manager is put to the test. The average mutual fund holder or retirement beneficiary may be surprised to learn that their funds are in part invested in low risk Hedge Funds. The most successful endowment funds have utilized the Hedge Fund investment to capitalize on market movement and volitility.

The professional that manage these funds are lightning quick and have the eccumen to know how and when to make grand plays. Any one who does not possess these combinations of skill and sixth sense does not last in the Hedge Fund for very long. The old adage, "If you snooze, you lose," applies to Hedge Funds.

The NASDAQ Exchange is a limited liability company and a corporation that provides a means for traders to execute stock orders for stock brokers, institutional investors and on-line stock purchasers. The NASDAQ Exchange was formed in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealer to fill a need for reporting stocks that were not a good fit in the regular stock exchange. The NASDAQ reports on over the counter stocks for thousands of stocks not listed on the other exchanges. By the 1990s NASDAQ surpassed in terms of listings the AMEX Exchange.

In order to trade on the NASDAQ the trader and members must be certified and agree to the by laws of NASDAQ Inc. In 1999 NASDAQ merged with AMEX to form the NASDAQ-Amex Group. By 2000 the National Association of Securities Dealers sold their interest in NASDAQ to private investors. See: NASDAQ Corporate Filings.

NASDAQ operates similarly to all corporations, it has Articles of Incorporation, Corporate Officers, By Laws and holds meetings. The NASDAQ LLC. has a governing board and in turn has rules and regulations it operates under. Given the quasi-governmental status of NASDAQ the Securities and Exchange Commission has a role in making sure NASDAQ operates according to good practices and regulations. If a company engages in inside trading, fraudulent reporting of corporate earnings and assets or the many areas of bad practices governed by the Securities Act of 1934, the Commission can provide sanctions and remedies for these acts. Likewise, state attorney generals and the U.S. Attorney may bring actions in court to cease and desist these bad acts and also provide for criminal sanctions.


What notable stocks are traded on NASDAQ?

As an investor you may invest in NASDAQ, it is listed under the ticker QQQQ. The stock value goes up and down depending on the overall health of the NASDAQ Top 100 Trust Funds. Currently NASDAQ QQQ, traded under ticker QQQQ is priced at around $48 a share. It has a market capitalization of $19 billion dollars and over the past three years has a 11.56 percent return on investments. The top holdings in QQQQ are: Apple, Cisco, Comcast, Gilead Sciences, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Qualcomm, and Research in Motion. A impressive group to be associated with in one stock. There are however, some stocks among the fund that are not as illustrious in their performance. The fund is weighted heavily in the hardware sector. The others sectors with a significant impact are software, business services, customer service and healthcare.

NASDAQ provides soup to nuts in investment opportunities:

NASDAQ offers literally thousands of opportunities to invest in individuals stocks, indexes, real estate investment trusts, options and other means to make an investment. The investor has an cornucopia of types of stocks choose among from semiconductors, energy, finance, components, retail, in all 3113 components make up NASDAQ. Each company listed must meet capitalization and reporting standards. The investor has the opportunity to review each quarters reported earnings and debts. A company is required to report any significant issues that may effect the investor and the company. There are news services and financial advisor services who actively stay in top of company news. All in all it is surprising why a company would even try to fool investors or governmental watch dogs.

NASDAQ notables:

Apple Inc. is the darling of NASDAQ. It trades under the stock ticker AAPL. If you have been living on a remote island somewhere in a cave, Apple is the designer, manufacturer and marketer of iMAC computers, software, iphones and through its subsidiaries a range of products that support Apple main line of products. In September, 2005 Apple shares were in the vicinity of $48. As of the close of business on August 31, Apple is worth in the range of $138 a share. The unique aspect of Apple is just when you think it has topped out and is dawdling it comes up with some surprise and it is off and running again. It is a darling because it has resilience and innovation.

Never to be forgotten is Miscrosoft. It trades under the stock ticker MSFT. What can you say about a company that brought information and technology to middle America, Africa, South America and the world. It is a stock that sells currently in the $28 range. It has controversy in all corners particularly with law suits challenging this grand daddy of the Internet, but it is a tried and true long performer. It is the company that people love and hate. If there is innovation out there, Microsoft will find it.

A personal favorite of mine is Intel. In part because it is a work horse in the technology sector and in part because I read and enjoyed Tom Wolfe's book on the company structure in Hooking Up. It was not a biography, but it did parallel the formation of this egalitarian work place. The stock sells in the range of $25 and sells under the ticker INTC.

Blue Chip Stocks are quality stocks that have a proven track record. A Blue Chip stock is like a member of the family in the American pastoral landscape. The Blue Chip stock makes toilet paper, laundry soap, aluminum, steel , washing machines and just about every well known brand we used every day The Blue Chip stock is Bank of America, U.S. Steel, Proctor & Gamble and others we think of as being our companies.

In times of uncertainty and for long term investors the Blue Chip stocks are a part of every portfolio either in direct stock purchases or through mutual funds. The Blue Chip stock is a large cap company and has decades and even a century of presence on the stock market. Some Blue Stock stocks are relatively new players like Home Depot or the result of a merger & acquisition. If you look around your house and around your town the brand products you use or have come to rely on are Blue Chip stocks.

The fact is that we take for granted the Blue Chip stocks both in our familiarity as an end user, but often times in the stock market. The Blue Chip stocks make up the S&P500 index. These stocks as a whole can be purchased as an index fund. Some Blue Chip stocks make up the Dow 100. These stocks on the whole are a bell weather of how the overall market is doing.

Like any familiar item the Blue Chip stocks become like a comfortable old pair of sneakers. We know where they are and they are easy to slip into, but they may not be as exciting as say Google or Baidu. In recent months some of the Blue Chip stocks have been a flight to safety for some investors. Not all Blue Chip stocks are alike, but some have been grossly undervalued and therefore a good buy.

Ways to invest in Blue Chip stocks:

The investor can pick and choose a Blue Chip stock and buy it through a stock broker or on-line with a trading company like Scotttrade or E*Trade. This gives you access to the companies performance on the short term and charts going back at least 10 years. The investor can access the companies financial reports and quarterly earnings on-line. The investor can ask the company to send you a company prospectus.

There are index funds of Blue Chip stocks that can be bought through a financial brokerage house. There are mutual funds that are designated as Blue Chip Funds in most family of funds offered in all of the major mutual funds companies. There is even a mutual fund company that offers a spider fund comprised of Blue Chip stocks that is similar to the S& P 500.

The variety of ways to invest in Blue Chip stocks is endless. Spiders, Index funds, and hybrids in between. There are option contracts and some tricky investments that only a really savvy trader can advise you about.

The Blue Chip stocks merit a good review in all times not just in times of market uncertainty.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), is the top 30 Blue Chip stock whose performance is averaged each day of trading on the stock market. The components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average reads like a who is who in the stock market.

Currently, the top 30 stocks are doing quite well on the stock market. Due to the small number of stocks that make up the DJIA all it takes it a few of the stocks to take a dive and the overall average can take a dip. It is good to analyze the sectors that make up the components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Direct consumer contact stocks in Dow Jones Industrial Average:

It should be no surprise to most people that Wal-Mart Stores Inc is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Over the past three years the price of Wal-Mart had a price adjustment due to various management decisions. The $52 to $58 per share days of 2005 has seen a drop to $43 in 2007. This stock is expected to reach the $52 range again in the foreseeable future.

Another solid past performer Home Depot is trying to make a rebound from concerns about the housing market. Recently, Home Depot has seen some return to the range where it should be trading. It closed recently in the $38 range and should see some improvements to the mid $40 range.

McDonald's Company is also on the road to recovery after a slump in 2005. Their healthy diet adjustments have improved the overall out look on the stock. It is currently trading at the high $40 range and should easily go higher.

Walt Disney Company is a stock with many hats. It is known for resorts and films, but it has a huge international presence in all types of communications and media outlets. The product line is extensive. It has numerous media outlets, including but not limited to ESPN, The History Channel and television stations. The stock is a value stock currently selling in the range of $33.

Technology stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average:

Microsoft Corporation,United Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, Verizon Communications, International Business Machines, AT&T and Intel Corp. round out the influence of technology influence on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. .

At this point an investor recognizes that if a sector is down for the day this will effect the overall Dow Jones Industrial average.

Large Multi-National stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average:

This category takes into account basic materials, drugs, machinery, autos and big cap companies that have a major influence on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The list of noteworthy stocks are: 3m Corp., Alcoa, Boeing Co., Caterpillar Co., E. I. Du pont de Nemours and Company, Exxon-Mobil Corp. General Electric Company, General Motors, Honeywell International Co., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Company, Pfizer Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, and Procter & Gamble Company and lastly big tobacco, Altria Group Inc. .

It is hard to imagine a more stellar group of major players with such influence on the world economy and influence. A mixed bag indeed, but there common thread is there gargantuan influence on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. All of the low to medium priced stocks may be purchased individually or in a mutual fund or index fund.

Financial Stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average:

This last group has a significant influence in the financial world. It may have some exposure to current angst in the stock market, but some are well positioned for any rocky road. The most stellar include, American International Group Inc. (AIG), American Express Company, JP Morgan & Chase & Company, and Citigroup Inc.

This groups influence on the overall Dow Jones Industrial Average is obvious. Some of the ripple effect of concerns about commercial paper and the real estate mortgage market may influence this groups effect. It will depend on whether the concerns should expand to the commercial real estate market and the extent of the defaults and foreclosures.

These are the top 30 components that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average. As you can see the overall rise and fall of small percentages in this market indicator requires a closer look at the components and sectors.