Recent content by Glenn Curtis

The daily movement in the world's equity markets is influenced by a multitude of factors, ranging from large institutional block trades and program trading to earnings and economic reports. One factor that makes a splash is the influence of commodity prices. In fact, fluctuating commodity prices...

A broker often needs to make a snap decision to buy, sell, or hold a stock. This is because there is no time to consult stock analysts, interview management, or read lengthy research reports. But a quick glance at some key information can lead to a good decision made whilst under pressure. So if...

You've probably heard the terms spread or bid and ask spread before, but you may not know what they mean or how they relate to the stock market. The bid-ask spread can affect the price at which a purchase or sale is made - and an investor's overall portfolio return. What this means is that if...

The currency price of one country becomes stronger or weaker against another country's currency on a daily basis, but what exactly does that mean for those who don't trade in the forex market? Currency exchange rates affect travel, exports, imports and the economy. In this article, we'll discuss...

When investors think about the capital markets, they typically ponder the merits of bonds, stocks or derivatives. Because it isn't as sexy and doesn't have the volatility of other securities, the money market is often far from the top of the list. Nevertheless, virtually all investors can use...

Individuals seeking income and/or the preservation of capital often consider adding bonds to their investment portfolios. Unfortunately, most investors don't realize the potential risks that go along with an investment in a debt instrument. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the more...

Most investors by nature will "go long" when they buy stocks. Few investors naturally will short stocks (or bet on their decline) because they really don't know what to look for. Some investors see the shorting process as somewhat counter-intuitive to the traditional investing process, since...

There are a number of things that can impact an investor's entry (buy) into or exit (sell) out of a given stock and/or sector. Depending on the investor and his or her goals and investing time frame, the importance of timing the entry will differ. Obviously, the shorter the time frame the more...

There are many characteristics and skills required by traders in order for them to be successful in the financial markets. The ability to understand the inner workings of a company, its fundamentals and the ability to determine the direction of the trend are a few of the key traits needed, but...

Insider buying and selling data can be extremely valuable for the individual investor. That is, if one knows how to use that data and interpret it so that a meaningful investment decision can be made. Insiders (executives and beneficial owners) must file what is called a Form 4 with the...

There are times when an investor should hold onto a stock when a company has just reported solid earnings or made some other positive announcement. However, there are also times when an investor should bail the second good news hits the tape. So how can you tell when to "sell on the news"? Let's...