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The article discusses the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in Shenzhen, China. Through April 13 the exchange had risen 55% during 2015. Most of the trading on it involves individual investors buying and selling shares of young Chinese companies.Only a limited number of foreign fund managers are authorized to trade in Shenzhen, although that could change later in the year when a trading link is established with an exchange in Hong Kong, China.

The article discusses excessive trading in stocks. Figures indicate the rate at which stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange are bought and sold has increased. The author says there are reasons to believe the same holds for stocks held by mutual funds, and offers reasons why individual investors should refrain from trying to outperform the market on a short-term basis.

The article discusses online marketplace Etsy Inc.'s planned initial public offering (IPO). Institutional investors will likely buy about 85% of the shares being sold. Five percent of the remaining shares will sold online to small investors. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley are among underwriters of the IPO, which could value Etsy at up to $1.8 billion.

The article discusses the need for investment advisers to temper the expectations of their clients. For the three years beginning with 2012 the Standard & Poor's 500 index recorded average annual returns of 21%, a figure well above the historic average that has prompted some investors to harbor unrealistically high optimism about their investment portfolios. Adviser Steven Dudash says some of his clients want to put all of their money into large-capitalization stocks.

The article discusses the rising number of Australians who manage their own pension savings and the consequent impact on stock prices. In an environment of low interest rates, stock analyst Hasan Tevfik says individual investors are mainly interested in the stocks of companies such as telecommunications firm Telstra Corp. and Commonwealth Bank of Australia that pay dividends. The Australian S&P/ASX 200 index has risen over 9% in 2015.

The article discusses the riskiness of using margin loans to fund investments, and describes the unusual margin debt of Edith Berwald Steierman. The last stock trade she made at her brokerage account at Merrill Lynch was in 1987. That same year she unwittingly used a margin loan of $3,525. In December of 2014 she got a letter stating her margin debt had grown to over $65,000 including interest. After inquiries by the publication the broker agreed to forgive the debt.

The author discusses the foolhardiness of individual investors who speculate on currency futures. He notes that brokerage firm FXCM Inc. has reported 70% of customers' accounts were unprofitable during the final quarter of 2014. In many instances people borrow money to speculate on currencies, thus exacerbating their losses

The article discusses how the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is working to close a gap in the electronic distribution of its corporate regulatory filings to investors who pay for subscriptions and the SEC website. Topics include how the lag gives large investment firms an advantage over smaller investors, the SEC's regulations for computer trading, and comments from SEC Chairman, Mary Jo White.

The article discusses a rally in stocks listed on China's Shanghai Composite Index. The index has risen 37% during 2014 through December 4. Declining property prices and the poor performance of gold as an investment have helped make stocks particularly attractive to individual investors, who account for close to 80% of market volume.

The article discusses currency trading by individual investors. Research co-authored by economist Rawley Heimer shows how traders are influenced by social-media comments from self-proclaimed successful peers. The National Futures Association reports that over 70% of individual traders are unsuccessful. The author presents questions that traders should ask themselves, and provides answers that suggest they probably shouldn't be trading to begin with.

The article discusses and presents advice about missives called happiness letters that investors may receive from their financial advisers. These letters often use jargon to describe potentially questionable activity with the recipient's account. Rather than sign and return the statement as requested, consumers are advised to get an objective opinion from a securities lawyer or somebody qualified to determine whether anything about the account is amiss and in need of correction.

The article discusses a turning away from actively-managed mutual funds by individual investors. Financial-analysis provider Morningstar Inc. says that over a recent 12-month period some $70 billion has been withdrawn from actively-managed stock funds. Figures are cited from financial-data provider Dow Jones Indices that show few fund managers have been able to consistently outperform the index benchmarks their funds are measured against.

The article discusses risk-taking by investors. Research by neuroscientist Paul Glimcher and others suggests a person's willingness to take financial risks is proportional to the density of cells in the brain's posterior parietal cortex. The author presents advice to investors on how they can assess their own vulnerability to deviating from long-term investing plans in times of crisis.

The article discusses structured notes. Short-term bonds whose returns are frequently linked to a specified stock index, structured notes often appeal to investors seeking a hedge amid periods of market volatility. The author describes how investors can incur significant losses on the securities, and advises that consumers educate themselves about all risks associated with the securities including the maximum amount they could lose before buying.

The article discusses rising anxiety among clients of trading and brokerage firms amid sharp declines in stock prices in October 2014. Financial adviser Ryan Wibberley says he has received nervous emails from clients. Portfolio manager Ron Desautels says he has been unable to keep up with his own email volume. The Merrill Lynch unit of Bank of America Corp. is among brokerages that have held conference calls among their advisers aimed at helping them reduce their clients' anxieties.

The article discusses implications for investors of research by psychology professor Garriy Shteynberg that shows a person's thinking about a topic can be influenced by the knowledge that others are focused on the same thing. Supporting this thesis, a 1989 survey by economist Robert Shiller found the investing decisions of most individual investors appeared to be mainly influenced by what others were saying about stocks, rather than by systematic research.

The author talks about his decision to select an investment adviser and why he ended up firing the adviser nine months later. He states that he had made his previous investment decisions with his wife but felt an adviser might have a fuller understanding of bonds and other assets. He comments on poor investment decisions of the adviser, including selling funds that were taxed at a higher rate and instances when the investor sold low and bought high.

The article talks about when investors should fire their financial advisers. It states between four and six percent of investors change advisers each year on average and mentions the largest group of advisers are representatives of brokerage firms and have their conduct overseen by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. It comments on the process of switching to a new adviser, including paperwork and the shifting of assets, and problems that can arise if investors get married or divorced.

The article reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is examining and collecting information about alternative mutual funds, funds available to small investors that often emulate the strategies of hedge funds. Critics say such funds may not be appropriate for retail investors. Investment firms offering alternative mutual funds include AQR Capital Management and BlackRock Inc.

The article discusses three trading strategies that make it possible for small investors to mimic hedge funds. So-called alternative mutual funds are similar to hedge funds in that they can go either long or short a stock. Investors can also fashion their portfolios based on the public disclosures hedge funds with over $100 million in assets are required to make. A type of mutual fund called a replication fund tries to match the performance of hedge-fund benchmarks.

The article discusses investors' willingness to buy stocks after unsettling news has produced a drop in stock prices. Ned Davis Research Inc. says the Dow Jones Industrial Average has a long history of quickly recovering from event-driven declines. Jim Paulsen of Wells Capital Management believes investors are not overly concerned in July, 2014 about unrest in Ukraine and Israel's invasion of Gaza.

The article considers the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) requirements for those seeking to invest in private offerings. The SEC is expected to soon review its rules, which in July, 2014 demand that an investor have annual income over $200,000 or at least $1 million in net assets. The author cites his own criteria which he believes should apply regardless of how much money an investor has.

The article discusses how Warren Buffett, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the multinational conglomerate company Berkshire Hathaway Inc., believes he does not make good investment decisions in retail. Topics include how he admires the CEO of Internet retailer Amazon, Jeff Bezos, how Internet commerce will disrupt his retail companies such as See's Candies, and how Berkshire executive Charlie Munger feels about retail and the Internet.

The article discusses concerns within the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) that relative tranquility in financial markets in the spring of 2014 could goad investors into risky behavior that might precipitate asset bubbles and greater market volatility. Fed members William Dudley and Richard Fisher have both expressed reservations about low levels of volatility they say could reflect too much complacency among investors.

The article discusses the phenomenon of investors being outperformed by the mutual funds they invest in. A study by research firm Dalbar found a 7.4% annual performance gap between the Standard & Poor's 500 index and average investor results. Although the author questions the magnitude of Dalbar's figures, he notes other studies have reached the same general conclusion. He recommends that investors be more disciplined about buying when stock prices are low and selling when they are high.

The article discusses an electronic system proposed by the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra) that would allow the agency to collect information about individual brokerage accounts. Finra's objective would be to find evidence of clients being abused by brokers, although some cite potential privacy and data-security issues. Former securities regulator Mike Stone says Finra could be harshly criticized if it failed to detect wrongdoing despite having access to so much data.

The article discusses the March 26, 2014 initial public offering (IPO) of mobile-game maker King Digital Entertainment PLC. King's share price fell 16% that day, making it the worst-performing IPO in the U.S. to date. Concerns were said to have arisen about the significant portion of King's shares that underwriters including J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. were making available to small investors, who are regarded as prone to quickly trading out of a stock.

The article focuses on mutual fund investments geared toward small investors and the need to research funds before joining one. It states that membership fees for funds can be steep with investors charged two percent of assets annually and 20 percent of gains. It mentions many hedge fund managers seek to generate steady gains and produce returns that don't move in step with broad market indexes. It comments on risks carried by hedge-fund-like mutual funds and examines fund of funds returns.

The article discusses an eagerness to invest in the stock market among some who have been out of stocks during a bull market that continues in March 2014. The author cites research by neuroeconomist Kaisa Hytönen, which suggests people are more likely to gamble after realizing a sudden gain or loss, in explaining why those who feel they have suffered losses from not participating in the stock market are anxious to get back in. Financial planner Jim MacKay advises gradual re-entry into stocks.

The article looks at stock investing, as of March 2014. It outlines the history of stock prices over the past several years, noting they fell sharply in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis and then rebounded between 2009 and 2014. It offers recommendations for individual investors on deciding how much of their portfolios should be allocated to stocks, citing factors including capacity to handle risk. Stock price forecasting is discussed.

The article discusses the renewed popularity of stocks and stock-trading among individual investors. Discount online brokerage firms E*Trade Financial and TD Ameritrade both experienced robust growth in average daily trading volume among customers during the fourth quarter of 2013 and throughout January 2014. Some analysts echo the concerns of David Edwards of investment-management firm Heron Financial Group LLC, who says individual investors have historically bought stocks near market highs.

The author notes that stock prices have been volatile during the first several weeks of 2014 and presents advice to investors on coping. He says investors who aren't disturbed by dramatic moves in prices need not make any changes to their investing strategy. Conversely, those bothered by market volatility should consider replacing some of their stocks with bonds and cash.

The article discusses optimism among investors regarding stocks despite a 5.1% decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in January 2013. The author cites growing belief in an improving U.S. economy, and investors' psychological recovery from a market downturn during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. However, Henry Herrmann of investment firm Waddell & Reed Financial Inc. says the popularity of U.S. Treasury securities indicates fear still exists.

The article discusses the psychological stress that rapid gains in a stock price can cause individuals by considering the case of Mary O'Keefe. Her deceased husband, Ross Miller, had accumulated stock in electric-car maker Tesla Motors. O'Keefe became uncomfortable with the stock's volatility and eventually sold all of it. Finance professor Terrance Odean cites the importance of not getting too emotionally invested in any one stock.

The article discusses caution among individual investors in the U.S. about investing in U.S. stocks. In 2013 U.S. stock mutual funds are set to record net inflows of cash for the first year since 2005. Sharp stock-price declines amid the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 are said to have left some investors discouraged about stocks, even though the Dow Jones Industrial Average could see its largest gain in 2013 since 1996.

The article discusses the value to investors of creating a list of questions one must satisfactorily answer before making an investment. Author Daniel Kahneman has observed that people tend not to be consistent when making certain types of judgments. John Mihaljevic of the "Manual of Ideas" Website says a list can prevent investors from making the same mistakes repeatedly. information is presented about the list used by Mohnish Pabrai of Pabrai Investment Funds.

The article discusses individual investors in the stock of electric-car producer Tesla Motors Inc. Between late September and late November of 2013 Tesla's share price has fallen 35% in the aftermath of car fires in Tesla vehicles. Automobile mechanic and Tesla investor Brian Steel remains a strong advocate for the company. Conversely, photographer Sam Cornwell has sold most of his Tesla stock.

The article presents advice on portfolio management from David Salem of investment company Windhorse Capital Management. Salem says that when considering how much to invest in stocks, investors should identify how large a decline in dollar terms they are prepared to see their portfolios sustain. A helpful guide in determining that, he notes, is an investor's behavior the last time stock prices experienced a marked decline.

The article discusses a renewed interest among individual investors in owning stocks five years after a global financial crisis turned many investors skeptical about equities. Through November 10, 2013 investors have added $76 billion to stock funds, after having pulled out $451 billion during the prior seven years. During 2013 the Dow Jones Industrial Average has reached new highs.

The article discusses the tendency of individual investors to achieve returns below those of the mutual funds they invest in. Due to untimely buying and selling, investors in the Pimco Total Return bond fund were collectively $11 billion poorer for the year ended September 30, 2013 than they would have been had they simply bought and held the fund for the entire year. Moreover, research by finance professors Geoff Friesen and Travis Kapp shows investment advisers err similarly.

The article discusses a rise in debt levels among U.S. companies that had sharply curtailed debt in response to the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. Since 2007 debt in the form of corporate bonds has risen 59%. A significant impetus has been strong demand among investors for securities that pay higher yields than U.S. Treasury bonds. INSET: A Look Back.

The article discusses online services that provide personalized advice on investment strategy for individual investors. Some such as Wealthfront Inc. and Betterment LLC actually manage clients' accounts, while others including Jemstep Inc., and FutureAdvisor analyze a client's existing brokerage and retirement accounts and make recommendations. INSET: Investing Help on Your Computer Screen.

The article discusses several common investing mistakes and how they can be avoided. Errors noted include purchasing mutual funds based on their recent performance, overestimating one's knowledge about the stock market, paying too much in mutual-fund fees, and failing to sell shares that have declined in value.

The article discusses the sale of shares in initial public offerings (IPOs) to small investors via technology produced by Loyal3 Holdings Inc. Globant SA plans to sell a portion of its forthcoming IPO from the Facebook social-media Website with the aid of Loyal3's software. Finance professor Jay Ritter says such direct sales serve more of a marketing than a financing function.

The article discusses the popularity among small investors in the U.S. of complex investment products called alternative products, and concerns among regulators that they may not be appropriate for them. Mutual-fund company Fidelity Investments is among firms that offer alternative mutual funds, which have attracted $59 billion during 2013 through July. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority says plans to take enforcement actions against brokers of such products.

The article discusses the difficulty some investors have in adhering to their investment plans, and describes research conducted by neuroscientists led by Molly Crockett that offers insight into the value of making a forceful commitment to a goal beforehand rather than relying on willpower alone for its successful attainment. The author offers his own thought on what investors can do to help ensure they stay committed to their plans.

The article looks at investing by individuals, as of 2013. It notes the high number of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available and offers advice, saying many individual investors should consider placing their savings in just a few index funds and suggesting a three-fund approach including funds focused on U.S. stocks, U.S. bonds, and foreign stocks.

The article cautions individual investors about steep markups that are sometimes charged on purchases of municipal bonds. Analysis by research firm Securities Litigation and Consulting Group shows investors sometimes pay markups of 3.04% or more, considerably higher than commissions on stock or mutual-fund transactions.

The article discusses how companies and investors are responding to a decline in bond prices. Some firms including software company Epicor Software Corp. are acting quickly to sell bonds before prices fall further. During the week ended June 5, 2013 investors withdrew over $9 billion from bond mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that focus on bonds.

The article discusses a trend in financial services wherein people accustomed to managing their own financial planning are making greater use of online tools provided by mutual-fund companies and brokerages, or holding occasional consultations with a professional adviser. Companies benefiting from the trend include fund company Vanguard Group and brokerage Charles Schwab Corp.