| The general populations usually like to think that the | | | | their online communities (message boards and chat |
| stock market is generally a place for investment | | | | rooms) have become control the market. Public |
| purposes and a place to put safe retirement money. | | | | Sentiment on any given stock can control its |
| However, even the larger more secure stocks and | | | | movement and drastically affect its price. When |
| sectors are being infiltrated by the internet message | | | | something happens to a company, be it positive or |
| board momentum. Institutions and Financial firms still | | | | negative, it can move that same company's stock |
| hold large stakes in the big stocks, but more and | | | | along with related stocks in the sector up or down. |
| more traders are independent now and bigger money | | | | Buzz about the boards and in the chat rooms take |
| is starting to be controlled in the hands of retail | | | | control of the stock by increasing optimism or |
| traders. Online Discount Brokerages are becoming | | | | inducing panic selling. Be careful and be aware of the |
| more and more common along with the increasing | | | | public sentiment of any and all stocks which you are |
| demand for Self Direct IRAs (and RRSPs for our | | | | invested in. Even though your company and the chart |
| Canadian friends). All you have to do to check this is | | | | may be headed in direction, a board or chat room's |
| track the increasing profits of Online Brokerages and | | | | opinion can affect it greatly. Small Caps no longer |
| Trading Services. | | | | belong to the Institution. Traders control the Stocks |
| Individual Traders and Investors are becoming the | | | | Now. |
| dominant force in the market. And because of this, | | | | |