How Stocks Work

Book excerpt: From the bestselling author of How Wall Street Works Everything You Need to Know to Invest ­­and Build Wealth ­­in Stocks How Stocks Work introduces you to both the basics and the finer points of stocks, the most widely held­­--and misunderstood--­­tool for today's individual investor. Written in the jargon-free, easily-referenced Q&A format of its bestselling companion book How Wall Street Works, this accessible and common-sense reference provides answers to hundreds of commonly asked questions, everything from what each share of stock represents to how to evaluate the risks versus rewards of investing in a particular stock. How Stocks Work covers every essential topic, including: How stock is bought and sold Factors that cause stocks to gain or lose value Strategies to minimize tax consequences Techniques for evaluating potential risks How ­­and why ­­to invest in foreign securities You work hard to earn your money­­--now it's time to put your money to work for you. How Stocks Work will dramatically increase your understanding of what stocks are, and show you how to make them the cornerstone of a successful, long-term investment program.