What Are Penny Stocks?

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Penny Stock Trading

Penny Stock: The penny stocks or shares are an investment options for those who have a small amount for investment and are willing to take risk. These stocks are generally available in very small amount and even a small investor can take a risk of investing few cents in these stocks.

Although there is some risk associated with every investment in financial market, penny stocks are good option for investment if you have some disposable amount, as here a small amount will be at risk. Broker or dealers trade these stocks and it is better to understand the financial terms associated with penny stocks. I would like to add that if you are looking some penny stocks for investment, you should learn more about penny stocks and you can find the relevant information about the subject on stock newsletter and message boards.

Stock Trading: Penny stocks are very speculative and have a market capitalization of around 500 million. These stocks are traded over the counter and the trading is governed by the SEC rules and guidelines on penny stocks. U.S Securities and Exchange Commission have laid down some rules for investment and trading in penny stocks and a beginner should keep these rules in mind before buying or trading in penny stocks.

SEC Rules on Penny Stocks: Broker-dealer registration compliance is must before buying or trading any penny stocks. A broker or dealer should get a written request and thereafter should approve the investor.

SEC further rules that a customer desirous to purchase a penny stock should be provided a document mentioning the risk involved in the penny stock. The broker or dealer should also inform the customer the current market rate of the penny stock and the commission that will be charged by the broker.

The provisions made in the appropriate sections also put a mandatory requirement of providing monthly statement to the investor showing rates of each penny stock held by the investor in his account.

Sometimes the other terms such as small caps and micro cap are also used for these companies and The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has defined penny stock as a low-priced below $ 5.0 speculative securities of very small companies.
Many small companies have low assets and offer the stocks at very low price. These low price stocks known as penny stocks are traded over the counter generally in low volumes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission strictly adheres that penny stock is low priced speculative stock and the term penny stock does not relate on market capitalization or it’s trading at the exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ) or over the counter.

Summary: Penny stock’s definition by the Securities and Exchange commission is strictly on the basis of its value and it does not depend on other parameters such as the companies market capitalization or its listing. Investor should carefully examine all the factors associated with penny stocks before investing in them.

Trading of Penny Stocks

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Penny Stock Trading

Introduction to penny stocks: The trading of the regular stocks is generally takes place at the various stock exchanges, however penny stocks trading generally takes place outside of the national stock exchanges such as NYSE and NASDAQ. In general penny stocks are traded in over the counter market or OTCBB and pink sheets and some of the shares are available for pennies. A few penny stocks has a huge potential to reach the better levels and even competes the regular stocks, however there is a need to correctly identify these stocks. Smaller companies whose market capitalization is below 5 million offer the penny stocks and as soon as the company grows, there is a sharp increase in the penny stock prices.

Share markets:
The major stock exchanges include the NYSE, NASDAQ, OTCBB and pink sheets. Penny stocks are generally traded at OTCBB and pink sheets, however as per the guidelines of SEC penny stocks can be traded in all the exchanges.

There are various minimum requirements for listing of shares by the companies at NYSE and NASDAQ. There is only one requirement for trading of penny stocks at OTCBB and that is the company should remain current in SEC filing. There is no place for a penny stock quotation if the stock does not meet the minimum standards set by different stock exchanges or OTCBB. Sometimes the penny stocks already being quoted at OTCBB, do not meet the SEC requirement will be allowed a certain period for completing the formalities and if the companies do not fulfill the required condition even after a 30 or 60 period of grace time, the penny stocks will be removed from their listing.

Pink sheets play a major role in over the counter trading. National Quotation Bureau or NQB provides this service. In actual the NQB prints the details of share prices and other information on pink sheets, as it is difficult to obtain the prices of these shares otherwise. Most of the time brokers get the price and other information on penny stocks from market makers and provide it to the customers. In today’s Internet era, you can find the details of penny stocks just a click away at the website of pink sheet. A company has to meet the minimum requirement of pink sheet for listing and quoting of the share at pink sheets.

Companies prefer to list the shares at NYSE, as it is highly preferred stock exchange. The next preference is given to NASDAQ and then comes the NASDAQSC. NASDAQ in recent past has become more popular and companies who have listed their shares at NYSE are also interested to list the shares in NASDAQ. The last preferences are OTCBB and Pink Sheets.

Summary: Various stock exchanges have laid down the minimum requirement for listing of the shares at the stocks exchanges. Pink sheet has the minimum requirement for listing of shares. However in this age of Internet the share information can be gathered at the website of pink sheets.

Rules on Penny Stocks

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Penny Stock Trading

Introduction to Penny Stock: The common understanding about penny stock in financial market of US is a kind of stock trading outside major stock exchanges. The major stock exchanges in US are NYSE and NASDAQ where the major stock trading takes place. For a beginner, the investment in penny stock may be a good option but at the same time he or she should understand all the related terms and the rules associated with penny stocks.

SEC Definition on Penny Stocks: Although the definition provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission is open with respect to the trading of penny stocks, these are generally not traded in NYSE or NASDAQ. There is a rare chance that these will be traded at any foreign exchange, however the Securities and Exchange Commission has put the higher ceiling of $5.0 for these speculative stocks.

US Securities and Exchange Commission: The mission and aim of the US Securities and Exchange Commission is to protect the investors from fraud, scam or other type of misappropriation. The commission is also ensure that the markets are efficient and fair. The commission also facilitates capital formation. The commission encourages more and more investors to get benefit from the share markets. It is one of the pillars for improving the economy of United States that will result more healthy opportunities for employment and better health and living standards for common people of United States.

The role of the commission is not limited to ensure proper protection of investors but it is also responsible for framing various rules and guidelines for smooth functioning of stock exchanges. It also lay guidelines for companies desirous to collect money from the market and strictly monitor the financial and other activities of such companies. It also ensures that the companies are taking care of their investors according to the rules and guidelines.

SEC Rules on Penny Stocks: As per the rules laid down by SEC, a broker or dealer is required to approve the customer desirous to sell the penny stock before the transaction. The broker should also get a written request from such customer.

SEC rules that a customer desirous to purchase a penny stock should be provided a document mentioning the risk involved in the penny stock. The broker or dealer should also inform the customer the current market rate of the penny stock and the commission that will be charged by the broker.

SEC further rules that a monthly statement of the account showing the current market rates of each penny stock held by the customer in his or her account should be send to the customer.

Summary: Penny stocks are governed by certain rules and regulation as lay down by SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission of US). The brokers and dealers should mandatory follow the instructions otherwise they are liable for punishment. The SEC rules provide protection of investors from fraud or misappropriation and dealers should also inform the investor about the current market rate and dealers commission before selling the stock.