BASIC INVESTMENT INFORMATION
Investment information key concepts stock quotations investment information resources
Investment terminology SECURITY: a financial instrument that is a claim on an asset and could be traded on the market STOCK: a certificate of share ownership in a corporation (equity instrument) BOND: a security that involves loan to be repaid (debt instrument)
Stocks an equity instrument common, preferred primary market: stock underwriters secondary market: –stock exchanges (NYSE, AMEX) –over-the-counter (NASDAQ network)
Bonds a debt instrument corporate, agency, municipal “coupon rate” of interest
Sources of financial quotations Printed resources: –WSJ, Investor’s Daily, Barron's Electronic quote systems: ticker services Online databases: e.g., CompuServe, Dialog, DJ News Retrieval Retrospective: Daily Stock Price Record (S&P)
Key market indicators stock indexes (Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500) earnings per share price/earning ratio book value price volatility bond ratings
Useful resources Value Line Investment Survey Moody’s Handbook of Common Stocks Standard NYSE Stock Reports S & P Security Owners Stock Guide
Useful Internet links Etrade.com Data Broadcasting Corporation - real time stocks Hoovers Info Service SEC