Penny Stock Basics

Most consider penny stock trading to be the exchange of stocks at a price between $1 and $5 per share. You’ll also see them labeled as micro cap stocks, microcap stocks, nano stocks or even just small cap stocks. But that doesn’t mean there is less risk involved in this market; in fact these stocks generally carry more risk. That’s why it’s a good idea to practice trading before you start investing real money.

Penny stock trading occurs within the OTCBB (Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board) or on the Pink Sheets. So you’ll also find these stocks labeled as OTC stocks (OTC stands for over-the-counter). They tend to represent smaller companies, newer companies or struggling companies. They either haven’t proven themselves enough to list on NASDAQ or the grand New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or in some cases they’ve been penalized by those exchanges and removed.

There is a common misnomer regarding this type of trading.

While you can get your stock quotes online or in the paper if you want to be successful at trading penny stocks you will need to check stock prices more often then after the market bell at the end of the day. Instead you may want to look into penny stock quoting systems to provide you with more up-to-the-minute quotes and further capabilities.

There are a few different levels of quotes with different degrees of detail and other functionality. Level I stock quotes are similar to the information you get on the news, while Level III stock quotes include quotes on stocks as well as the ability to execute trades and send out a notice that trades were executed.

Since the price of penny stocks can change so quickly and so frequently throughout the day, the more information and capability you have with stock quoting systems the better chances of your success with penny stock trading. This is an already tricky market so all the tools you can find to help can make a big difference.

Here’s a secret for everyone attempting to find the best penny stocks on the Internet: Such a list does not exist!

If you find anyone claiming to provide a list of the best penny stocks for free, they’re full of it. Stop hitting the search engines or message boards trying to find the ultimate list of penny stocks. Real penny stock lists are incredibly valuable and you will not find them for free online.

It takes an immense amount of effort to unearth the hottest stocks before they spark and rise. It also requires resources and time that most people do not have the luxury to spare. Furthermore, it takes the kind of industry knowledge & wisdom which can only be developed & honed with years of experience doing real work in the field.

Sometimes known as micro-caps, nano-caps, small cap, or OTCs, penny stocks are securities of small private companies, often with less than a penny per share, that generally trade at low prices. They may be purchased and held for short periods and then delisted by the market where they’re listed, and then traded in again. Some penny stocks are overvalued, while others are undervalued. Many investors,

One of the most common — if not the outright most common — questions I receive is, “How do I buy stocks on line? I think one of the most important ways to answer this is not with a direct answer but rather with a series of questions that helps the questioner understand the complexity and weight of that question.

In all likelihood, if someone is asking this question they are new to online investing. That can be a very precarious and vulnerable role to play these days, as these Internet waters are infested with fraud-perpetuating sharks. So come along with me as I examine what someone asking about how to buy stocks on line is really asking. Keep in mind the answer to this question can also vary based on what type of stocks you are considering, for example someone looking to get into online penny stock trading may use different tools than someone trying to diversify their retirement portfolio.