Stock prices are determined by supply and demand. In essence it is the equilibrium price which reflects what the buyers are willing to pay and the sellers want tor receive. The behaviour of the buyers and sellers is determined by many factors, but most importantly by news and perceptions of the future earnings and profit potential of the company. For instance, if a company announces a major restructuring plan to lower its production cost, such news may increase the stock price if investors believe that the restructuring plan will increase the profitability of the company. Or, if the oil price falls, the stock price of companies with high dependency on oil (such as airlines) may go up becuse their production costs will fall and their profit potential will increase.
However, buyers and sellers of stocks have different motiviations for buying and selling stocks. For example, a value trader may buy stocks in a falling market if he believes that the stock is undervalued compared to its future earnings potential. On the other hand, a drivatives trader who is short a call option hedged with the underlying stock may sell the same stock into the falling market to re-hedge his overall exposure.
As a result, the observable stock price incorporates all the news and rumours in the market and is the weighted average of all the possible behaviours and motivations of buyers and sellers.
2006-09-20 16:47:34
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answer #1
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answered by I didn't do it! 6
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The first thing that determines stock price fluctuations is the que of orders. Some orders come for specific prices and some are at market prices. I offer to sell a stock at $1.00 and you offer to buy a stock at $0.95. Since what I am asking and what you are bidding does not match, WE won't make a trade. Now if the exchange has a bunch of market orders to buy, then I sell for $1.00. If the exchange then gets a bunch of market orders to sell, then you are buying at $0.95. Usually, however, the spread is a little more narrow and the brokers get a pile of buy orders together with a bunch of sell orders, so they take a number between and simply swap credits towards stock. The brokerage has x shares and accounting has y number of investors owning it--when I change my order to market and you change your order to market and our brokerage swaps interest, then my name drops off and your name is added to the list of those who own the shares. These are the sort of micro or technical functions.
There are broader reasons for prices to fluctuate, the macro or fundamental functions. Company XYZ is selling something in vogue and folks say "I want some of that" then the market orders come rolling in. A big storm endangers the boat that is bringing the product in from China or where ever, then some will get antsy and sell because if the boat sinks or the cargo swamps overboard, then the company can't sell the stuff and the company won't make money. Then the sell orders come rolling in. Company WXY announces that they have a better product than XYZ's and it sells for less. Some people will say, 'drop XYZ and get me some of WXY'. The price of XYZ goes down. Then word comes out the WXY's product has a lot of bugs and isn't really as good or sold as broadly as XYZ's stuff. Suddenly, the word is 'sell WXY and get me some of XYZ again.' During this time the price will be bobbing up and down--buying high and selling low mostly.
2006-09-20 16:36:08
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answer #2
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answered by Rabbit 7
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Stock prices change every day because of market forces. By this we mean that stock prices change because of “supply and demand”. If more people want to buy a stock (demand) than sell it (supply), then the price moves up. The most important factor that affects the value of a company is its earnings. Earnings are the profit a company makes, and in the long run no company can survive without them. It makes sense when you think about it. If a company never makes money, it isn't going to stay in business. Public companies are required to report their earnings four times a year (once each quarter
2006-09-20 16:22:56
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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There are many factors. A company's price goes up if it grows (i.e. make more money) or a sound reason that it will grow (e.g. hiring a historically successful CEO to run the company). Price will fall if something happens that will or expected lower its profits (e.g.9/11 and the airlines (except Southwest). Economic booms and recessions, inflation, mergers, takeovers, bankruptcy, scandals, etc all affect the stock price. If you're young and interested in investing, then buy small to medium size stocks (lot of grow potential but risky). Once you have a nice chunky $portfolio$, invest in T-bills/bonds/and established companies to minimize risk. Good luck with investing...perceive like a game. It can be risky, but there can be a very rewarding payoff.
2006-09-20 16:29:40
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answer #4
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answered by str8trisor 2
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Performance of the issuer of the stock. If the company is doing well, stock prices will go up.
Par value of the stocks. If there is a stock split, market value pero share will decrease but overall, the aggregae market value of the stock may increase.
Stock dividends usually make market price increase.
Perceived state of the economy and law of supply and demand will also affect stock prices.
2006-09-20 16:24:11
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answer #5
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answered by statices 2
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Oh man you are at step 1
You need to visit Yahoo finance page, and look for the reference tabs.
I like smartmoney.com as well
Bottom line is stock goes up or down just like the hot new elmo toy on eBAY now. It is worthless unless many people want it, and it is in short supply (sold out). The price goes up then.
2006-09-20 16:20:44
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answer #6
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answered by simmsdanjen 2
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the main aspects would be: the drift or form of shares mind-blowing the provision and insist of the inventory how lively is the inventory or how many circumstances does it get traded in an afternoon earnings education Downgrades or advancements by making use of analysts Quarterly and FYE reporting or SEC reporting Commodity or wholesale expenses important expenses for centers or products including income expenses, gasoline expenses Write downs # of shorts on your inventory or placed thoughts Insider figuring out to purchase or merchandising Capitalization of the inventory earnings aims or revenues boost opposition earnings Margin venture of enterprise or aims Catalysts or why is the inventory going to upward push or fall How properly is the enterprise innovating or bringing new products or centers to the industry Is the enterprise making use of the superb technologies to maintain funds How sturdy is administration PE ratios quantity of Debt - case in point Blockbuster is hurting with debt and would pass bankrupt quickly industry fundamentals - how properly is the industry doing case in point is it in Gold or utility (what's the outlook for the industry?) Hidden sources actual there are endless form of issues that impact the inventory cost many products probable no longer even important including twelve months end merchandising or shares further to the S&P 500 inflicting figuring out to purchase orders as index funds do away with one enterprise and upload yet another.
2016-10-01 05:02:15
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answer #7
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answered by gangwer 4
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90% emotion 10% value
2006-09-20 16:20:00
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answer #8
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answered by tcstlrfan 2
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Honestly:
Performance, lies, fears, emotions, media, its all a crap shoot.
2006-09-22 04:00:45
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answer #9
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answered by Cali Girl 5
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Only one thing: DEMAND.
2006-09-22 12:11:34
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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