A Penny for Your Stocks

According to Investopedia Inc. the penny stock market has seen phenomenal growth this past decade. From '94 to '03, the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board trading volume increased an astounding 8900%, equaling a total of 63% of the NASDAQ and 78& of the NYSE share volumes. Many an investor has succumbed to their siren song.

It isn't hard to see why. Penny stocks are usually traded in lots of 1,000 and, as the name suggests, are bought (and sold) at incredibly low prices. There is no official price cut-off, and differences of opinion range from shares trading under $1.00 all the way up to $5.00. Others distinguish according to the market that they are traded on (the OTCBB, OTC or "Pink Sheets" for example). Yet others designate stocks as penny stocks based upon their market capitalization, or the value of each stock multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares. Regardless of the specifics, a general rule applies to all penny stocks ? they are a very high risk investment. Inversely, there's also the potential for staggering rewards.

But for every pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, there are thousands of cliffs and pitfalls along the way. The risks and dangers of penny stocks are many. In the stock exchange, there is a "best price" priority given to orders of a higher price than yours if you're buying or a lower price if you're selling. Combining this priority with what is very often low volume trading means there will be times when you find that your orders cannot be filled. In addition, there will be instances where you will have to settle for partial order fulfillment. And these are just dangers faced when your stock is performing well.

Penny stocks come from companies that are often less than credible, and unlike some of their more expensive cousins, can find themselves swayed by the power of rumors. Press releases, news stories, widespread whispers and even online forums and chat-rooms can be responsible for dramatically influencing their performance. This volatility creates two considerable challenges: 1) a high potential for schemes and scam artists; and 2) the inability to use traditional stock charting methods with any real effectiveness. It goes without saying that this isn't a market for the faint of heart.

Jennifer Gibbs is a successful freelance writer who lives in South Georgia with her husband and son. Be sure to check out her website for more great content, or to request a bid for your writing needs. http://www.jennifergibbs.com

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.

UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.

Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.

Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.

A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.

Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.

Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.

Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.

Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.

Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.

New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.

A Penny for Your Stocks

Stocks & Mutual Fund