Yahoo! Finance Page

My primary focus is on Yahoo! Finance, but have info for other valuable tools. To utilize some of the items I discuss,  such as using portfolios, Yahoo! requires the user to have a Yahoo! account (free), and be signed in.

Printable PDF tutorials and links to the web pages. If you are just starting your education, read the 10 commandants (good reading for all, actually), then do the Portfolio and Stock Screen tutorials just below. Don’t be too concerned about understanding all of the specifics in these two tutorials at first. For me, it’s more fun to play while learning! The Investopedia section below has some good educational references.

Yahoo! Portfolios are an awesome FREE tool for “paper trading”, tracking stock watch lists, or tracking real stock holdings and viewing some data in real time. To learn how to use portfolios, print this one page PDF tutorial, then click on this link to get to: Yahoo! Finance.

Yahoo! Stock Screener: A primer on how to use the stock screener. Print this one page PDF tutorial, then click on this link to get to: Yahoo! Stock Screener

Yahoo! Stock Screen Criteria Definitions: PDF file with description of every Yahoo! screen criteria, typed verbatim.

Stock Screen Criteria Details: This PDF file is an expanded, 10 page version of the Definitions file above with lots of detailed information / links to expand learning. Also includes notes from my personal research.

Yahoo! has real time data for free on the website. It is possible to view real time data in a portfolio, but the view criteria in “Real Time ECN” is limited and this view is not customizable. When you create your own portfolio view, switch between “Real Time ECN” and the view you created, you will see the custom view has delayed data. Read about Yahoo! Market Tracker in the $$ stuff page for details on a premium real time data service.

PLACING A STOCK ORDER: This PDF file has details from a popular discount broker on order types and how to place an order for a stock. The minute details can vary slightly between brokers, and some might not allow all types of orders. Check the with broker you chose.

Investopedia has great articles on buying and selling stocks:

The Basics Of Order Entry
Understanding Order Execution

Something to consider / remember - If I have $1,000 in an account for buying a stock, I should subtract the total cost of buying / selling. Say broker commission would be $4.95 to buy, and $4.95 to sell. That would leave me with $990.10 to buy a stock. To buy / sell seven different stocks = $69.30 reserve.

When I sell a stock, it will take several days for the funds to become available for reuse. I shouldn’t sell a stock, then expect to be able to buy another based on the sale I just made. I need to have the money in the account for any buy I want to make.