Is there is a minimum amount (or minimum number of shares) when you trade in the US stock market?
965471
Usually there's no minimum, but some companies do charge you a fee if you're inactive.\n\nJust so you know, there are a lot of good brokererages depending on what you like and how you trade.\n\nBarron's Online has a great article on brokerages that they publish each year. (I'll try to find you the link for the March 6,2006 article)\n\nFor basic stuff, E*Trade, Ameritrade, and Scottrade are sufficient. For more complex trades, I'd recommend Optionsxpress, ThinkorSwim, or interactivebrokers. \n\nBased on what you put in your question, I'd recommend one of the first three, or maybe Optionxpress, but all are very good. Cheapest probably is scottrade (of the larger online firms). Yes there are cheaper like interactivebrokers, but you'll have to get used to their software based platform (which is doable). They're only about $1/contract on options!\n\nBrokerages like Fidelity are horrible for anyone with any decent experience. \n\nSo, decide what's important to you as a trader and compare the brokers! You can use the article, or go to each website as they all seem to have comparison charts! \n\nIf you have any questions, let me know.\n\nHope that helps!
171447
The different stock exchanges have different requirements for listing.  Some of the different requirements are capitalization, # of shares, price per share, revenues, stockholders equity, # of shareholders and # of market makers.\n\nIn the past the NYSE was considered the premier market and had much higher requirements.  The NASDAQ had lower requirements and was thought of as a proving ground for up and coming companies.  As the popularity of the stock markets has increased and as volumes increased, the NASDAQ has closed the gap attracting top companies such as MSFT, INTC and AAPL.  Some companies also prefer the liquidity of the market making system (NASDAQ) than the specialist, auction system of the NYSE.\n\nFor more info, go to www.nyse.com and www.nasdaq.com and read the listing requirements of both exchanges.
736395
When the details of the buy-out are released the stock price will adjust accordingly.  If the buyout is announced to be $12 per share then the stock will trade at $12 (or very close) almost immediately.  You can sell the shares in the open market at that point in time.\n\nOtherwise, you will be offered shares of the parent company (one who is buying out smaller company).  The number of shares will be a dollar-weighted average of the shares you own.  You will still come out with the same dollar amount in the long run after the conversion but it will likely be far fewer shares.
1053584
It applies to any type of trading - Limit order applies to selling. You ask your broker to buy something below limit (like buy XXX at $5 or less rate). Stop order applies to selling. You want to stop your hold when price falls below a minimum (sell 200 of XXX if price falls below $3). Stop order is a way to minimize the losses.
998507
The minimum amount means, your broker will not let you open an account, unless you have their required amount of money in your account. \nLike if you were to open a checking account with a bank and only deposit $10 in it. Most likely, you wouldn't be using it much.\n---If a broker requires a minimum of $2500, with only $500 they don't think you'll be making many trades and that's less money for them to make on commissions. With only $500 the maintenance fees and paperwork needed to keep your account open isn't worth their bother.\n---No matter what amount of money is in your account, you can buy shares of stock at any price. As long as you have that amount of money in your account.\nWhen they require a minimum amount in your account, that can be in money and the price value of any securities (stock shares) you have in your account.
103409
Not sure I understand the question.  If you want to change your shares owned, then buy more or sell some depending on the current price.
392826
After a stock split an investor who owns the stock would have twice as many shares (if it was a 2 for 1 stock split).  But the value of each share is cut in half.  So there is no real change in value for the investor.\n\n(Similarly for a 3 for a split: 3 times as many shares at a third of the value per share, etc.)\n\nCompanies split their stock for several reasons, not the least of which is that it improves the liquidity of their stock.  If a stock typically has low trade volume, then the same dollar amounts traded in the future would double the share volume.  Other reasons could be that small investors would be more likely to buy the stock if the price is lower, and also, if a company wants to eventually be listed on the NYSE instead of the NASDAQ, then they must have a certain minimum number of shares outstanding (as well as a certain market capitalization).\n\nHope this helps.\n\nBy the way, typically, when a company splits its stocks it is because they think they will continue to do well.  the last thing they want is for the price to fall TOO low and then later have to do a reverse split.  For this reason, following a split, some stocks may perform slightly better than normal.
495926
Just sell enough shares to cover the amount of money you originally invested.  For instance, if you put $1000.00 in a stock that was $0.50/share when you bought it, you should have around 2000 shares.  If the stock is now $1.00/share and you want to take out your initial investment, just sell 1000 shares.  Your sale should net around $1000.00 or 1000 shares which leaves only the profit invested.  You can then use the original $1000.00 to invest in another stock.
53924
Brokerage minimums vary...but Scottrade is $500 to open an account. Check out sharebuilder.com too if you want to buy small chunks..they have plans where you can invest X amount each month into a specific stock.\n\nAlso, some companies allow you to buy stock directly from them. Usually, it's a $250 or so min. Check out the website of a company you are thinking of investing in and look at their investors link. You can also go to www.equiserve.com (they manage direct stock purchase plans for hundreds of companies).\n\nAvoid cheap stocks < $10. They are cheap for a reason and usually of bad quality... Your money is better spent on high quality stocks....especially if it's your first purchase. "expensive" is relative.
1174156
First answerer is correct, but it usually implies keeping the quantity of stock to a minimum and ordering only to satisfy customer demand.
405632
I'm afraid that your question is apparently based on several separate misunderstandings of the way the stock market works, so that it is not possible for your question to be answered. If you are asking this for a specific reason (for example, if you are trying to figure out a way to fund a startup company) then you really should consult with an attorney who specializes in corporate law. If you are asking just out of academic interest, let me point out a few of the basic problems:\n\n1) A company with 20,000 investors cannot, under US securities law, have an IPO. An IPO is an initial public offering, but if a company has over 300 investors, it is required to file publicly, so it would already BE public, and thus could not have an INITIAL public offering in the first place.\n\n2) At an IPO, the company initially begins selling shares (not "stocks") at a particular price, after which the market bids the price up and/or down. Therefore, a company is not legally allowed to offer any particular class of people (such as investors) a discount to the market price.\n\n3) The number of shares being bought or sold is completely irrelevant without looking at the larger picture. One share of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is currently trading at about $87,000 but one share of many 'penny stocks' trade at $0.01.  Therefore the value of 2,000,000 shares (not "stocks") depends on a large number of factors, such as whether there a total of 2,000,00 or 200,000,000 shares issued.\n\nAs you can see, this is a big, complicated question, and you really, really should speak with an attorney if you are thinking about DOING anything along these lines.\n\nA good way to get a quick introduction to how the stock market works is to play the Stock Market Game, which is at the URL below (and it's free).
750411
No it's not. When you trade more than 4 times in a one week period  it is considered day-trading. The FTC controls how daytraders work. I've read before that you must have at least $25,000 I think to daytrade legally. Their are a lot of rules regarding daytrading. Trust me if you put 500 bucks into an account and start buying and selling everyday, on the third day, someone will contact you with a warning explaining everything.\n Just do a quick search on daytrading. I believe im pretty close the the right answer on this.
451534
Check out the nasdaq website. Look up that company, find out how much one share of stock is selling for. Then find out the number of available shares. Then multiply the two. That's your answer.\n\nThat doesn't mean you could buy the company for that figure, but that will answer your question.
542192
I assume this is a publicly traded company??  If not then the company sets the rules on how the stock is redeemed (sold). The least expensive, but not the quickest, route would be to open an Internet brokerage account. Otherwise go to any broker and expect to pay as much as a few hundred dollars.  Broker fees vary by broker, number of shares in the transaction and value of the stock. \n\nKEEP IN MIND - if this is publicly traded stock, protect it as you would cash.  If you lose it, it is gone.
790713
All investors have to file a public notice with the SEC if they acquire, I think it is 5%, or more of a company's common stock. But there is no limit to how much any investor may buy. Although, as a practical matter, companies often discourages investors from buying more than a certain share by triggering poison pills etc.
354033
This is kind of like asking how the government works. Its a little too broad a question. But basically when you buy stock, you buy a "small piece of the company" that can either go up or down in price for whatever reason. The stock markets are where these orders get traded. Its difficult to learn a lot about it because the more you know the less you need help from financial professionals. Just remember there are a lot of smart people with big money in the market and they want to get all the profit and stick the smaller fish with the losses. Wall Street Journal put out a book that shows you how to read the WSJ newspaper. Its a good way to learn about the market and the overall economy.I learned about the market from AM financial radio shows. Although they are always selling you something, if you listen close you can get alot of free advice. Between that and actually getting into the market I learned a ton. Just remember its all a risk and if you can't lose than don't play. Good Luck !
1023575
If its a stock - it depends on how much the stock cost.  Say its a $2 per share.  You should buy in 100 share lot minimum so that's $200 plus $10 co mission\n\n\nGrand total:$210.  Owning part of the Capitalist system: Priceless.\n\n\nIf you are looking at mutual finds, I think there are some that have a $300 minimum.  Check a few companies such as Vanguard and Fidelity.