Mina Mar Group

When we speak about market trends that actually refers to anything that alerts the market your corporation operates in.  So, there’s a good chance that different market trends are having an impact on your company’s operations simultaneously at this very moment. This imposes the following question- why would it be necessary to stay up-to-date on market trends and developments? That’s the way you evolve and remain competitive.  Maybe you can’t take a race with the velocity of change connected with technology or legislation, but there is one thing you can do - take actions that can help you to expand in parallel with all those changes. So, there is no need for spending hours a week tracking trends research. It’s enough just to comprehend the diverse market trends which can help you identify what is actually appropriate for your company. This kind of in-depth research enables you to quickly adjust to dynamic market conditions and maintain your competitiveness. According to this an...

There are many prejudices about Penny Stocks and why should anyone have them in their portfolio. As defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, penny stock is any publicly traded firm’s share that trades below $5 per share.   These types of stocks are inexpensive, allowing you to invest without committing large sums of money, which is advantageous for those on a limited budget.   That also implies if the business in that you have just invested fails, you won't suffer a significant loss per share.  Finally, all this indicates that the very same amount of money can purchase more penny stock shares than it can purchase more expensive securities shares. Tremendous gains can be made with a tiny initial investment. As a result, they have the potential to become extremely successful.  Despite their significant volatility, penny stocks provide excellent returns. These stocks have the ability to provide explosive growth of 100% or over in a single day, a...

1. Blue Chip Stocks Stocks of a large and well established company that is consistently profitable. 2. Income Stocks Stocks that pay consistent and growing dividends in good and bad times. 3. Growth Stocks Stocks that are anticipated to grow at a rate above the average of the market cyclical. 4. Defensive Stocks  Stocks that pay a constant dividend regardless of the market conditions. 5. Cyclical Stocks Stocks affected by changes in the overall economy. 6. Penny Stocks Stocks with prices under $5 and are know to be volatile.

Futures contract or just futures is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell assets at a predetermined price at a specified date in the future. Underlying asset can be stock market index, currencies or most common commodities - oil. gasoline and gold. Buyer of the future has the obligation to buy the underlying asset when the future contract expires just like the seller has the obligation to provide the asset at the expiration date. Futures that are traded on commodity future exchanges are more standardized and regulated like Chicago Mercantile Exchange or  New York Mercantile Exchange. Standardized contract means that for instance, one future oil contract is for 1,000 of oil and one gold contract is for 100 troy ounces of gold. The Commodities Futures Trading Commission regulates the exchanges and require buyers and sellers to be registered. Futures are used by two types of market participants - hedgers and speculators. Guarantees to buy or sell at a cert...

Derivative is very complex complex to explain but at its most it is financial contract between two or more parties and it derives its price from an underlying asset. Basically buyer agrees to purchase the asset on a specific date at a specific price. There are numerous types of derivatives and underlying assets can be almost anything but the most common are commodities (oil, gasoline, oil), currencies, stocks, bonds, interest rates and market indexes. They can be traded on unregulated over-the-counter market where transactions happen between private parties or they can be traded on exchange where they are highly regulated and standardized. Bear in mind that OTC constitutes major portion of  derivative market and it caries great counterparty risk - possibility that one of the parties involved might default. Common derivatives are options, futures,swaps and forwards.  Options give the buyer right but not the obligation to sell or purchase underlying asset at a ce...

Blank-check company is development stage company without specific business plan or purpose or that has business plan to engage in a merger or acquisition with an unnamed company. These type of companies are bound by Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 419 to protect investors therefore they may be subjected to additional requirements if they are registering securities for public offering. Because SEC views them as penny stock  or microcap stock there is more rules and restrictions imposed upon them. For instance blank-check companies are not allowed to use Rule 504 of regulation D that exempts companies from registration of securities for offerings up to $1 million. Companies are also required to fully disclose all terms and condition of the offering. Popular type of blank-check company is special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), created to pull funds in order to finance merger or acquisition within certain time frame. It is publicly listed company that rises money...

Roll -Up is a type of Merger&Acquisition strategy. It happens when smaller companies in the same market or industry sector are merged into one large entity. Reasons for consolidation include economy of scale, expanded geographical coverage, better name recognition and increase in value. Merger of smaller companies happens in fragmented industries where there is no dominant company or where is one dominant player and none of the small companies can challenge its dominance. Usually it is the private equity firm that does investment thesis, using analysis to identify target companies for an acquisition. If you as an owner want to buy more smaller companies and merge them into one entity the deal is most often done as a combination of cash and equity in exchange for ownership stake at the acquired company. Before the deal is done there are several very important questions that need to be answered. Are the target companies good match? What additional products/services/value...

Dodd-Frank Act, officially called Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Customer Protection Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010. The Act is voluminous and complex peace of legislation that reshaped U.S regulatory system in many sectors, including consumer protection, trading restrictions and credit ratings. It was the response to financial crisis of 2008 as Dodd-Frank put regulation on financial sector and created laws that stopped mortgage companies and lenders taking advantage of customers. The Act generated criticism that it inhibits growth of the economy and puts to much burden on the U.S. companies. Many experts blamed the lack of oversight and financial regulations for the crisis. It was the worst economic disaster since Great Depression of 1929. Fall in the interest rates allowed people with poor credit score to pursue their dream of buying a house. Problems appeared when interest rates started rising and many defaulted their payments. This cr...

Sarbanes - Oxley Act is the United States federal law that amended and supplemented existing requirements in corporate financial reporting and accounting practices. Commonly called SOX Act was signed into law by President Bush on July 30, 2002. After highly publicized corporate financial scandals including Enron and WorldCom the purpose of the Act was to restore investor's shaken confidence in the market and truthfulness of corporate financial statements and close loopholes in the law that led to fraud. The Act that got the name from two sponsors Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes and Rep. Michael G. Oxley created strict new rules for accountants, auditors, corporate officers and more strict record keeping requirements. Also it added new, more stringent criminal penalties for violation of this law. The new law set out reforms in four principle areas: corporate responsibilities, criminal punishment, accounting regulations and new protections. SOX is a lengthy and complex peac...

Companies raise capital by issuing shares on the primary market which is regulated by Securities Exchange Act of 1933. The following year Securities exchange Act of 1934 was enacted by Roosevelt administration which regulates securities on the secondary market, where they are traded after original issuance. This Act created Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and gave it broad power to register, regulate and oversee securities, markets and financial professionals. SEC has disciplinary power over regulated entities and person associated with them if they engage in prohibited conducts in the market. Requirements outlined in securities Act of 1934 must be followed by all companies that are listed on stock exchange. Primary requirements include corporate reporting, proxy solicitation, tender offers, insider trading and registration of exchanges and associations. Companies that have more than $10 million is assets and more than 500 shareholders must do annual and periodic ...

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is independent U.S federal agency that regulates the stock market. It was created in 1934 by Congress to help restore investor confidence after the 1929 stock market crash. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was created by Securities and Exchange Commission. It govern securities transaction on the secondary market relying on Securities Act of 1933 which increased transparency in financial  statements and  established  laws against fraudulent activities. In essence SEC provides transparency by ensuring accurate and consistent information about companies that allows investors to make informed and sound decisions. Without transparency stock market would be vulnerable to market speculation and creation of asset bubbles.  Securities and Exchange Commission has five  commissioners and five different divisions: Division of corporate finance - review corporate filing requirements ensuring that investors have c...

Stock market correction happens when the market falls 10% or more from it recent peak. Correction can occur in securities or any other asset class. To knew investors this may come as a big surprise but corrections are natural part of market cycle that happen often and they can even strengthen the market. It is caused by certain events that triggers selling but market usually makes up loses in couple of months. Correction is not the same as the stock market crash. Correction happens when fall of 10% manifests itself over days, weeks or months while stock market crash happens when price drops by 10% in one single day. Stock market is one of the main indicators of economic health since buying and selling of securities is based on investors projections, whether they have positive or negative expectations of future market movements. Corrections don't last long, usually it is three or four months and they can happen more than once a year. They happen during expansion phase and i...

Bull market is market trend when price of assets or securities rise by 20%, an opposite from bear market. The term bull market is usually used when talking about securities but the term applies to anything that can be traded, real estate, currencies and commodities . During bull market all three major stock indexes, S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average rise. Bull market happens in healthy economy and is characterized by investor confidence and optimism. The term can be also applied to investors, ones that have optimistic view of the market is called bull or bullish. On the other hand investors with pessimistic view of the market are called bears or bearish. Natural rise and fall of economic growth over time is known as business cycle and it has four phases: expansion phase, peak, contraction and through. Bull market happens during expansion phase when economy is growing with strong GDP, with drop in unemployment and strong corporate profits. In stock market...

Bear market is defined as a market trend in which price of securities fall 20% or more from previous market peak and last two months or longer. Usually bear market is caused bu declining economic activity caused by a change in monetary policy. Recession is accompanied by low employment. Stock market crash, drop in stock price of 10% or more in just a day or two can cause bear market and negative investor sentiment. It can occur in any asset class, stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities or section of industry. In stocks bear market is measured by indexes like Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq, if they are continuing to lower over period of time. Bear market can be recognized through observation of business cycles. It is the opposite of bull market or expansion phase when asset price continue to grow over time. sometimes corrections, less severe decline in price that lasts less than two months. Investors use different steps to protect themselves like increasing amount of cash...

Many beginners in investing dream about getting rich and becoming a seasoned investors. It is not an easy task but it is not impossible. If you are serious about investing the first thing you need to do is stop dreaming about becoming rich and successful overnight. You probably heard it many times but that's because it true- patience is the key. You will have to learn how to think long term and not make hasty decisions that you will regret later. Another thing that you have to do before you start is to get to know yourself - what is your goal, what motivates you and also very important your fears and limitations. Knowing what you want will help you devise an investing plan and stick to it as well as knowing your limitation. So far it is a good start but it is not enough because you will have to educate yourself continually about investing, but don't let your lack of knowledge hold you back. Stock market is ever changing and learning about it is a lifelong journey so if...

Restricted stock or restricted securities is unregistered stock that is not fully transferable until certain conditions are met and they must be traded in compliance with SEC regulations. After the conditions are met stock is no longer restricted and it becomes transferable.  Restricted stocks are often given to employees as a compensation that typically become transferable after certain conditions are met like continued employment for a period of time before vesting or achievement in particular product-development milestones, earning per share goals or other financial targets. Restricted stock is also given to corporate insiders like directors and executives, often after merger and acquisition, underwriting and affiliate ownership  to prevent early selling of stock that could negatively affect the company. Corporate affiliates can also lose the right on stock if they leave the company, fail to meet certain performance goals or break SEC trading restriction rules. Con...

Private placement memorandum also known as offering memorandum is the most important document for any private company that is raising capital. Such sale of stock, bonds or other securities directly to selected private investors is called private placement. Unlike company that is raising capital via traditional IPO and becomes publicly traded, company that utilizes private placement remains private. Private placement memorandum can be compared to prospectus in public offerings and its purpose is to provide prospective buyers with needed information. Offering memorandum gives in depth look at business and its operations explaining nature of business, terms of investments, potential risks and management among other things. Sometime it can be compared to thorough business plan but there is a difference. Business plan often has marketing purpose created to promote the company and attract investors. On the other side private placement memorandum is more factual and descriptive in t...

Direct public offering also known as direct listing or direct placement is a type of offering where company offers securities directly to public in order to raise capital. It is considered alternative to initial public offering but unlike in IPO company that uses direct listing eliminates intermediaries like investment banks that underwrite stock, making stock price dependent on the market. In direct listing employees and early investors convert their ownership into stock that is then offered to the public meaning that no new shares are issued which stops stock dilution. Because in DPO middle man in form of investment banks, broker-dealers and underwriters is eliminated it enables issuer to sell shares quickly, without the lockout period. It also makes the offering cheaper because there is no underwriting fees to pay and faster because there is fewer thing to manage than in traditional IPO. Underwriters  not only set the IPO price but they also organize roadshows, fil...

In February 2019 Securities and Exchange Commission voted to propose a new Securities Act Rule 163B that would permit any issuer to engage in oral or written communication with potential investors that are, or are reasonably believed to be, qualified institutional buyers and institutional accredited investors either prior or following the filing of registration statement. This means the expansion of the JOBS act, which created Section 5(d) of Securities Act that permits only emerging growth companies to engage in communication with investors prior or following the filing the registration statement of the offering. Companies that have more than $1 billion in annual revenues cannot qualify as emerging growth companies and use the benefit of "test-the-waters" provision. The new rule will extend it beyond EGC to all issuers, including investment company issuers. The proposal from the SEC follows action taken by The Division of Corporate Finance in July 2017 to allow all ...

Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act or JOBS Act is a law that former president Barack Obama signed on April 5, 2012. The purpose of the act is to increase ability of small businesses to raise capital and generate jobs but also improve financial opportunities for all American citizens and not just wealthy investors. Of all seven titles of the bill Title III that refers to crowdfunding drew most attention. Provisions of the bill made easier for companies go public but also to raise capital and stay private longer. Act defined the term emerging growth company as a company that has less than $1 billion total annual gross revenue in recent fiscal year. The JOBS act provided such businesses with temporary relief from certain SEC requirements which made taking your company public a lot easier. The most significant relief are the exemption from audit of internal controls required under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. It allowed new exemptions from registratio...