| Should you buy penny stocks? That's an excellent | | | | are listed on an exchange that isn't well known, |
| question. Let's look at some of the pros and cons. | | | | they are probably not subject to all the minimum |
| First of all, what is a penny stock? In the United | | | | standards and listing requirements that other |
| States, it's a stock that's worth less than $5 per | | | | stocks are held to. This means that they aren't as |
| share, regardless of the market. On the other | | | | stable. |
| hand, the term can also apply to any lower priced | | | | Another thing: Penny stocks are a great source |
| and easily manipulated stock. It will often refer to | | | | of income for fraudulent individuals. This is due to |
| a stock sold outside NYSE, NASDAQ, and MEX, | | | | the stock's less known status. Many of these |
| the three major stock exchanges. | | | | same people have misled investors through |
| Because they're priced so cheaply, penny stocks | | | | internet message boards and spam emails. |
| are a very tempting way to break into the stock | | | | They get investors to pour huge amounts of |
| market. Another reason they're attractive is | | | | money into a stock that has no real potential for |
| because they could dramatically increase in value | | | | growth, and then selling their own shares when |
| in short order. But they also have a huge potential | | | | the price rises. "Pump and Dump" is the name of |
| for steep losses for the same exact reason. | | | | this infamous scheme. It has emptied the pockets |
| If you buy penny stocks, you may find that they | | | | of many a naive investor and lined the wallets of |
| are harder to sell than you anticipated. These | | | | the fraudulent. |
| stocks have fewer investors interested in them, | | | | You might be tempted to buy penny stocks for |
| so they are not traded as often as higher-priced, | | | | their great prices. But be careful: Keep in mind all |
| popular stocks. | | | | the possible pitfalls before you invest any kind of |
| On top of that, if the stocks you're looking into | | | | money. |