Information Sources in Business - Stocks - Assignment Example

Information Sources in Business (Stocks) Information Sources in Business (Stocks) IntroductionMany investors prefer making fortunes in the financial markets due to the expected variation in prices. Some of the investment approaches in these markets include stocks. Stocks are the equity stakes of the shareholders of a corporation that present their claim on its earnings and assets (Fuller, 2006). According to U.S Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), 2015, stocks are also known as securities that signify ownership in a corporation and can be issued by companies to increase the capital base and pay-off loans. Notably, the stock’s key significance is ownership that can be used to reflect various assets and to earn in a business. Stocks can be categorized into two types namely the preferred and common stocks. The classification is based on the voting rights of the shareholders (Capiński & Kopp, 2012). Common stocks are units of ownership that carry with them voting rights that can be used in making some of the vital decisions in the corporation (Investor.gov, 2015). The shareholders receive their dividends and vote during meetings to make vital changes in the companys operations (Hafer & Hein, 2007). Conversely, preferred stocks are not associated with voting rights; hence, the shareholders are not directly involved in the corporate decision-making structure. The privileges include the priority in the case of liquidation and receiving of dividends before the common shareholders (Mrzygłod & Nowak, 2013). According to (U.S Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), 2015), stocks can be traded through stock funds, full-service brokers, direct stock plans and dividend reinvestment plans. The stock market can be affected by different fiscal policies such as taxes and other regulations by governments. It can be defined as a market where publicly owned companies trade their stocks on various exchanges and are found in free market economies (Parameswaran, 2011). The size of the market can be determined by jurisdictions based on various country borders. Stock indexes can be classified as an underlying stock security used in the future and options derivatives. The derivatives rely on the price of the underlying stocks in the markets. Additionally, stocks have also been to represent financial value; hence, can be regarded to as a form of current (Parameswaran, 2011). For example, a company can own part or full ownership of another during mergers and acquisitions through the exchange of stocks and equities. Communication structure: Associations They are many listed associations listed under self-regulatory organizations that control fiscal and monetary policies in the stock markets. Examples include the Japan Security Dealers Association (JSDA) that is found in the Japanese securities markets. Launched in 1940, JSDA has had more than 500 members and its main activity is to act an intermediary between the stock markets and the individual governments. Another association includes the African Securities Exchange Association. It was established in 1993 in Kenya to serve various stock exchange markets in Africa. It has grown overtime and now has 24 members from different states in the continent. Its main activities include the provision of assistance and information to develop competitive exchanges. Thirdly, the World Federation of Exchanges that was established in 2010 as the Federation Internationale des Bourses de Valeurs (FIBV) has wider ranges of jurisdiction. It is located in London but has 65 members globally as of 2014. The core roles of the associations are to regulate the global stock market through protection of investors and stock exchanges based on jurisdictions. Communication structure: Societies Various societies have come up due to the growth of the stock and securities markets. The societies are based on various principles. However, the top three societies include the following. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFM) found in the American society, was incorporated in 1976 to represent firms despite their sizes. Securities Industry Association and the Bond Market Association merging in 2006 increased its capacity for new members. It has more than 500 members and its main activities comprise of providing information and educational resources to investors who are part of its membership. Secondly, the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets (ASIFMA) is an example of society in the Asian market that was established in the year 2006 forming part of SIFMA, but located in Hong Kong where it has been used to regulate the stocks in the Asian markets. Its main activities include promoting and developing liquidizes in the stock market. It has over 80 members from different sectors of the financial market. Finally, the International Bond & Share Society (IBSS) has the role of monitoring stocks, shares and other financial certificate on the international stock exchanges (International Bond & Share Society, 2015). It was started as a nonprofit organization in 1978 and has grown tremendously due to its major role of monitoring stocks and bond certificates. Communication structure: Journals A wide selection of journals discusses the stocks and other related disciplines. However, the top three journals have been identified using specific academic approaches. They provide knowledge on stock markets based on different views of authors and economic specialists. The Journal of Economic Perspective provides information on theories relating to financial and securities markets. It was established in 1987 whereby specialists have provided resourceful knowledge of stocks and other business related topics. It has 29 volumes that present the theoretical background of the stock markets and the manner in which fiscal policies affect their operations. Secondly, The Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money, provides information through articles that are related to the international securities markets and foreign exchange markets. It is published six times every year by Elsevier BV and has both online as well as printed copies that consist various articles in stocks, bonds, and stock exchanges. Thirdly, the Journal of Investment Management, which is printed various times a year, provides information to investors on the stock prices, trends, and market stability. Most articles are found in the disciplines of finance, economics, and accounting. It was established in 2003 and provides both online and print copies. References Sources: Dictionaries Various dictionaries in the business discipline provide information on economic terms. Examples based on topics include biographical dictionaries, etymological and nautical dictionaries among others. The Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms presents information on different terminologies such as stocks, exchanges, and stock markets. Additionally, it has over 13000 terms that are categorized in different topics. The dictionary also contains ‘the word of the day that shows the prevailing word that is worth understanding. The dictionary can be used by businessmen, investors, entrepreneurs and business students among others. Secondly, the Dictionary of Business and Management is authored by Jonathan Law and contains over 7000 terms covering all business disciplines. The dictionary can be accessed online of purchased through different sites. It can be used to provide various meanings of words on a business perspective including ‘stocks. It can be used in both learning and financial institutions to provide more knowledge on the business terms. Thirdly, The Wall Street Dictionary is also known as the most authoritative dictionary of financial terms. It has more than 5000 terms and abbreviations; hence, provide more knowledge on the abbreviations and business phrases and words. Waal Street professionals established the dictionary in 1999. References Sources: Encyclopedias There are different business encyclopedias that provide knowledge in the chosen discipline. Examples include the Academic American Encyclopedia and Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia among others. They offer background information on the topic that could be in the form of a word. Specialists such as scholars or technical analysts that have carried out in-depth research on the subject write the encyclopedias. Examples of economic encyclopedias that can provide data on stocks include the Encyclopedia Britannica and the Encyclopedia of Economics. References Sources: Handbooks/Manuals Basic identification data includes the facts, formulas, quick references, and technical information on the topic. Examples of handbooks include the Oxford economic handbook and Harvard Economic Handbook, the Handbook of Economics, Handbook of Financial Securities. The chosen topic on stocks may require various formulas in the exchange of stocks and assumptions that are put in place. They provide quick access to a researcher that already has acquired other vital information from other sources. References Sources: Almanacs The content data include brief statistical information and facts. They can be both current and retrospective. They can provide information on different trends of shares and stocks at various stock exchanges for a specified amount of time. Examples of almanacs include the economic almanacs, The Investors Almanac 2015, Stock Traders Almanac 2012, and Wall Street Almanacs among others. References Sources: Newspapers Many Newspapers provide daily information on stocks and securities. The content data include updated stock prices in different markets based on the jurisdiction of the newspapers. They also provide different trends and changes in the stock market. They also provide information on potential investments and prediction of stock prices. The New York Times is a daily newspaper that was established in 1851, which categorized its news in various disciplines that include business and stock markets (Markets.on.nytimes.com 2015). It is regularly updated, based in the U.S and provides financial information on global markets. The Washington Post, a daily newspaper based in the U.S, is also worth mentioning due to its vast information databases. The newspaper is extensively distributed and can be accessed online at different locations. Its business category provides updated information on the international financial and stock markets. Wall Street Journal that covers American stock markets primarily covers the American and international financial markets. The newspaper is published six days every week with various editions based on the jurisdiction. It has the Economic Review that provides financial information on the trends in different stock markets. References Sources: Magazines They provide vital information on stocks, bonds, and securities due to their constant updates based on the stock market behaviors. The content information is specific in nature since articles provide patterns of various stock exchange markets. They can be from individual companies or different stock markets. Examples of such magazines include the Forbes Magazine that is a global publications reviewer. It was established in 1917 and is published twice weekly whereby most of its articles are based on finance. The Yahoo Finance Magazine provides articles on the finance and investment topics. It is part of the Yahoo Corporation and offers live data and trends on different stock markets. Thirdly, the Bloomberg Business magazine was established as the ‘Business week’ in 1929. It is published weekly providing updated stock prices of various financial markets. Specialized informations Sources: Repositories They are mostly recommended while using associations as a source of information. The content information is specific data related to the stock and equity markets. The knowledge is managed and stored in specialized locations making it easy to access during researches. Examples include institutional repositories. Examples include the UnaVista Trade Repository that provides stock information on the London Stock Exchange. Despite the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA), providing information on bonds, it may also act as a repository for stocks data. Specialized informations Sources: Database Online business database have become sources of information in the business sector due to the advancements in technology. They may include the Fixed Investment Securities Database, The New York Stock Exchange, and NASDAQ. They provide constant and updated information on the stock trends in the market. Specialized informations Sources: Online Information Resources They may include daily publications, news, and economic websites that provide data on stock markets. Content information may include background information, current trends in the markets and future predictions based on share prices. Examples include Yahoo Finance Stocks Center, Stocks Online, and CNN. Arabian Gulf Information Sources Many business resources in the Gulf related to stocks and securities discipline. The Arabian Business is a preferred and influential newspaper that provides knowledge on stocks and security markets in the Arab Gulf Region. Zawya offers financial, business and investment news for the Arab countries (Zawya.com, 2015). Additionally, gulfbase.com is resourceful in proving information on financial markets in the Middle East. Internet forums, on the other hand, are online discussion platforms where members can exchange ideas in the form of text messages. The internet forums may include Moneysavingexperts.com, College Confidential, and Craigslist, which can provide data on the Arabian Gulf region. References Business.nasdaq.com,. (2015). Nasdaq. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://business.nasdaq.com/ Businessweek.com,. (2015). Investing & Stock Research by Company and Industry - Businessweek. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://www.bloomberg.com/research/company/overview/overview.asp CapinÌski, M., & Kopp, P. (2012). Discrete models of financial markets. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Finance.yahoo.com,. (2015). Learn the Basics about Stocks: Education Center - Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://finance.yahoo.com/education/stocks Forbes.com,. (2015). Welcome to Forbes. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml Fuller, D. (2006). The stock market. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications. Hafer, R., & Hein, S. (2007). The stock market. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. Investor.gov,. (2015). Stocks | Investor.gov. Retrieved 9 April 2015, from http://investor.gov/investing-basics/investment-products/stocks Markets.on.nytimes.com,. (2015). Markets Overview - NYTimes.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/overview/overview.asp Markets.wsj.com,. (2015). Stock Market Data & Financial Markets Summary - Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://markets.wsj.com/us MrzygÅ‚od, U., & Nowak, S. (2013). Stock Exchanges Go Public. The Case of Warsaw Stock Exchange. JOIS, 6(2), 111-123. doi:10.14254/2071-8330.2013/6-2/10 Parameswaran, S. (2011). Fundamentals of financial instruments. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Tradingeconomics.com,. (2015). United Arab Emirates Stock Market (ADX General) | 2001-2015 | Data | Chart. Retrieved 8 April 2015, from http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-arab-emirates/stock-market Zawya.com,. (2015). Middle East Business, Financial & Investment News, Intelligence Reports & Projects - Zawya. Retrieved 9 April 2015, from https://www.zawya.com/ Read More