Market Mechanics
At one share price, queue priority can decide which order trades first
A price touching your limit does not guarantee a fill. Understand price and time priority with a simplified order-book example.
COMPANIES · REPORTS · MARKETS
Read the business behind the stock ticker.
Plain-language notes on companies, markets and investment research. Explore focused guides, useful examples and questions worth asking.
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Market reading
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Company Filings
An IPO greenshoe gives underwriters an option to buy additional shares
Understand an IPO’s over-allotment option, separate the base offer from possible additional shares and read the exercise terms without treating them as a price guarantee.
Valuation Concepts
A negative book value makes a price-to-book ratio harder to use
A negative book value changes what a price-to-book figure can mean. Check the denominator before sorting stocks by an apparently cheap ratio.
Investment Instruments
A convertible bond can become shares, but the conversion terms decide when
Understand a convertible bond’s conversion ratio, share value and contract conditions through a simple example, without mistaking conversion for a guarantee.
Global Markets
IPO bookbuilding gathers demand before the final offer price is set
IPO bookbuilding collects bids to inform the offer price. Separate demand, allocation and later market performance before interpreting a subscription headline.
Reading company accounts
Understanding share-based payment expenses in company accounts
Share-based payment can affect reported profit even without an immediate cash payment. Read the accounting note before treating the expense as economically irrelevant.