| The stock market is essentially a giant auction. The | | | | results prove to be below expectations, the price |
| only difference lies in the fact that instead of fancy | | | | graph witnesses a downslide. |
| objects, ownership in businesses is up for sale. | | | | Apart from growing sales and profits, there could be |
| Stocks are traded that is bought and sold by traders | | | | several other factors that could make the stocks go |
| at places called Exchanges. Stock prices change | | | | up in price. These factors include a new enterprising |
| every day, in fact sometimes by the hour! As a | | | | president at the helm of affairs, the introduction of |
| result of this, the market can appear to fluctuate | | | | an exciting new product or service, acquisition of a |
| widely. Generally, the price of a stock is influenced by | | | | massive new contract, motivating reviews of a new |
| the basic rule of economics, which is illustrated by | | | | product in the press or on television, the decision to |
| supply and demand. Understanding the intricacies of | | | | split stock, a scientific discovery that implies an |
| supply and demand is not a very complicated task. | | | | additional utility of the product, a famous investor |
| The supply and demand rule means that if more | | | | buying shares, in general lots of people buying shares, |
| people want to buy a stock than sell it, the price | | | | an analyst rating the shares from 'buy' to 'strong |
| increases because those shares are rarer and people | | | | buy', global expansion of the company, a competitor's |
| will pay a higher price for them. In such cases, the | | | | factory burning down and the company winning a |
| demand is more than supply. Conversely, if more | | | | lawsuit. |
| people wanted to sell a stock and no one is | | | | On the other hand apart from profits slipping, stocks |
| interested in buying them, there would be greater | | | | could go down due to variables such as resignation of |
| supply than demand, and the price would fall. | | | | top executives, a famous investor selling shares of |
| However, the comprehension of the fact as to why | | | | the company, an analyst downgrading his |
| the demand of a particular stock is high or low with | | | | recommendation from 'buy' to 'hold', the loss of a big |
| the general public is quite tricky. For this, one has to | | | | time customer, many people selling shares, a factory |
| acquire knowledge to the insight of the likes and | | | | burn down, launching of a better product, scientists |
| dislikes of people and learn to analyze whether any | | | | rating the product as unsafe, a lawsuit filed against |
| news related to a company will have a positive or | | | | the company and a powerful competitor entering into |
| negative impact on the minds of the people, which in | | | | business. |
| turn causes fluctuations in the prices. The most | | | | However, the stocks at times fluctuate owing to |
| important factor that affects the value of a | | | | good or bad rumors or surprisingly due to no reasons |
| company is its earnings. Earnings are the profit a | | | | at all! Some believe that it is impossible to predict the |
| company makes. | | | | change in stock prices, while others believe that by |
| Undoubtedly, profits determine the long term survival | | | | drawing charts and looking at past price movements, |
| of any company in the business empire. Public | | | | one can determine when to buy and sell. Truly |
| companies are required to report their earnings four | | | | speaking, no one can really know for sure. The only |
| times a year that is once in each quarter. These | | | | thing that stands valid is that stocks are volatile and |
| seasonal earnings are very closely monitored by | | | | change in price very rapidly. Therefore, whenever |
| analysts as the company's future value rests on | | | | you think of investing, be prepared to handle the risk |
| them. If a company's results are better than | | | | factor! |
| expected, the price graph sees a high. If a company's | | | | |