Ebook: How the stock market works: a beginner's guide to investment

"Now more than ever, people are being affected by the fluctuations in the global economy and by financial uncertainty - with major impacts on their savings, portfolios and pensions. Fully updated for this fifth edition, How the Stock Market Works tells investors what is being traded and how, who does what with whom, and how to evaluate a particular share or bond in light of rival claims from critics and admirers. Although using the British stock market as an example throughout, and a short chapter on British taxation, the book covers the fundamentals of what stocks are, how they are traded and how stock markets work. Covering the practical consequences of being a shareholder, the book is a useful reference for those new to investing."--;How this book can help -- Acknowledgements -- 01. What and why are shares? -- Quoted shares -- Returns -- Stock markets -- 02. What are bonds and gilts? -- Bonds -- Preference shares -- Convertibles -- Gilts -- 03. The complicated world of derivatives -- Pooled investments -- Other derivatives -- 04. Foreign shares -- 05. How to pick a share -- Strategy -- The economy -- Picking shares -- 06. Tricks of the professionals -- Fundamental analysis -- Technical analysis -- 07. Where to find advice and information -- Advice -- Information -- Indices -- Online -- Company accounts -- Using the accounts -- Other information from companies -- Other sources -- Complaints -- 08. What does it take to deal in shares? -- Investment clubs -- Costs -- 09. How to trade in shares -- How to buy and sell shares -- Using intermediaries -- Trading -- Stock markets -- Other markets -- 10. When to deal in shares -- Charts -- Technical tools -- Sentiment indicators -- Other indicators -- Selling -- 11. Consequences of being a shareholder -- Information -- Annual general meeting -- Extraordinary general meeting -- Consultation -- Dividends -- Scrip issues -- Rights issues -- Nominee accounts -- Regulated markets -- Codes of conduct -- Takeovers -- Insolvency -- 12. Tax -- Dividends -- Capital profits -- Employee share schemes -- Tax incentives to risk -- ISAs -- SIPPs -- Tax rates -- Glossary.