Newstockreports

Online investing continues to be popular among consumers, due in part to the fact that it meets most Americans’ requirements – it’s fast, easy and convenient.

In fact, according to research conducted by business research firm JupiterResearch, online trading households are expected to grow from 17.3 million in 2005 to 22 million by 2010.

With so many companies competing for a piece of that pie, it can be difficult at best for consumers to navigate the ever-changing landscape of online investing.

For many, the hardest part is not making that initial stock purchase, but investigating the best (and worst) buys.

So, where does one start?

Fortunately, with the advent of the Internet, consumers are only a keystroke away from a plethora of information on the good, the bad and the awful. The downside? Users can be so overwhelmed by the amount of data that the task of researching stocks can be daunting.

One company is helping Internet investors by making it easier for them to get only the news and stock alerts they want.

Centale Inc. (OTC BB: CNTL), based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is building a “real time” comprehensive news and stock alert application that is keyword-programmable called “Market Fragger.” Forbes.com will be the first to implement this service.

The system will allow users to customize financial news by inputting their own search criteria. The information from the search is then delivered directly to the investor’s desktop on both PC and Macintosh. Centale also plans to release a wireless application version.

This capability can potentially allow the investor to spend less time searching and more time making smart investing decisions.

Forbes.com has approximately 8 million to 10 million visitors per month.

While there is no doubt that computerized trading can be faster, cheaper and more convenient than going through a traditional brokerage house, it’s important to research your options to determine what’s best for you and your portfolio.

Among the many revolutionary changes brought about by the advent of the Internet is online stock trading. Once the exclusive preserve of the rich and the wealthy, the stock market has now become a place where even the common man can play a part. Investors today can use Internet client-server technology to trade stocks anywhere, anytime they like. Just a couple of mouse clicks and the client is through with a thousand-pound transaction!

There are several ways in which one can participate in online stock trading. One can use an online broker, or do it himself.

There are two types of online brokers: discount and full-service. The former are licensed individuals who have direct access to the share market. They neither give you advice nor research the best options. They just order the stocks you want at a discounted price. They earn no commission but make money by selling mass amounts of stock.

In comparison, a full-service broker offers many more stocks. They act as your personal agent in all share-related activities, such as advice in buying shares, creating a safe investment portfolio, and offering investment advice. Commissions being their main source of revenue, they work hard to satisfy you. So they do a lot of research on the best stocks and investments for you, and hope you will stay with them.

As stock trading is a complex thing, you should do your homework before taking the plunge online. Take into account how frequently you trade, what other services might interest you, how reliable the trading system is, whether it is difficult to log on when the market is active, and other variables. As hunch or intuition may turn out to be misleading, try to be conversant with the markets state-of-the-art trading techniques and strategies. Try to read the quarterly or annual reports of the companies to know what they are doing with your money. When in doubt, ask your stockbroker.