Analysts take the heat for failing Internet Companies By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. With the burst of the “Internet Bubble” starting in April 2000, and running through the end of that year, investors lost an untold amount of money in the seclaw.com/glossary/stock/” data-gt-translate-attributes='[{“attribute”:”data-cmtooltip”, “format”:”html”}]’>stock market. While one can debate the size of […]
Investors
Analyst Conflicts – Problems? Solutions?
The SEC Releases an Investor Alert on Analyst Conflicts and Suggests that Investors do their Own Research. By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. June 30, 2001 The SEC has posted an Investor Alert on Analyst Recommendations and Conflicts Tilted “Analyzing Analyst Recommendations”. According to the Commission, the Alert is intended to warn investors of […]
Who regulates the stock market in the US?
The stock market has many different regulators. The primary regulator is the Securities and Exchange Commission. The stock exchanges are governed by their own organizations, under the direction of the SEC. seclaw.com/glossary/stock/” data-gt-translate-attributes='[{“attribute”:”data-cmtooltip”, “format”:”html”}]’>Stock brokers and brokerage firms are regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) which was formerly known as […]
What is a Security?
A security is a form of ownership in an entity. While some believe that in order to be a security the instrument must be traded on a market, the legal definition of a security is much broader. The definition is important, because if the instrument is a security, then the federal and state securities laws apply to the purchase and sale of that instrument. We define and explain the different types of securities
Millennials Are a ‘Generation Lost’ for Financial Matters
Millennials are a “generation lost,” according to a new study, and are in for a tough time when they finally reach retirement, thanks to a lack of understanding of financial matters as much as a lack of interest.The study, titled “Generation Lost: Engaging Millennials with Retirement Saving,” from BNY Mellon […]
Tepper: Believers of SunEdison rumor must be high
Billionaire David Tepper tells CNBC that investors who bought into rumors he might take a position in SunEdison must be smoking too much pot. Source: Tepper: Believers of SunEdison rumor must be high
FINRA Approves Rule to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation
FINRA announced a rulemaking item to help firms better protect seniors and other vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. The proposal would allow a firm to place a temporary hold on a disbursement of funds or securities and notify a customer’s trusted contact when the firm has a reasonable belief that […]
Promises of Indestructible Wealth
According to the SEC’s complaint, Online videos designed to attract investors to attend investment seminars were posted with such titles as “Finances God’s Way” or “Indestructible Wealth” which encouraged retirees to sell their existing securities holdings and invest in the created by the videos promoters.The SEC claims that the videos […]
For The Record
Note: Mark Astarita was the legal columnist for Research Magazine from 1995 to 2000. This column was the first in of 5 years of monthly articles. BY MARK J. ASTARITA, ESQ. By now, you’re probably aware of Spring Street Brewing’s successful initial public offering completed last year. The company conducted […]
ScammersUsing False Credentials to Attract Investors
In a recent blog post at The Securities Law Blog, I warned investors and brokers of the fraudulent use of FINRA’s Broker Check system by fraudsters to impersonate legitimate financial professionals. See, FINRA Admits BrokerCheck Being Used for Fraud. BrokerCheck, the publication of private, regulator-mandated information regarding financial professionals, has […]
