stock trading

With all the ups and downs in the stock market in the last week, it's not surprising that some investors have panicked. But we've also found examples of investors who have kept calm. Here are some of their secrets.

A bruising session on Wall Street Thursday wiped more than 500 points off the Dow - its worst drop since October 2008. Driving the fear is growing concern about the possibility of another recession. Will the selloff continue Friday? It all depends on the Labor Department's employment report.

Online retailer Overstock.com ended its last fiscal year on a strong note, and now it's gearing up for an international expansion. Outspoken CEO Patrick Byrne discusses the company, as well as his views on sales tax, short selling and the economy.

The fabled New York Stock Exchange isn't what it used to be. Today's NYSE Euronext has lost a huge volume of trading to upstart computerized exchanges in recent years, and scandals have tarnished its luster. Now, Germany's Deutsche Boerse wants to buy control of it. I say: "Sell!"

The biggest names in social networking -- Facebook, Twitter, Zynga and LinkedIn -- haven't yet gone public, but their stock does get traded by the very rich on private exchanges. Now, some of those transactions have raised the interest of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A former Goldman Sachs computer programmer has been convicted of stealing trade secrets and property in an effort to help a Chicago-based startup develop its own high-frequency securities trading operations.

As 2010 draws to a close, it looks like 2011 is likely to be another wild year for the stock market. Fear not: Here are some tips from T. Rowe Price portfolio managers on how careful investors can take advantage of drops and rebounds in the coming year.

Some of the best reads for investors from around the Web, including posts on a misunderstanding about kickbacks at Foursquare, the second stimulus plan and the latest in Google perks: servants for its employees.

JPMorgan Chase kicks off earnings season for the financial sector Thursday, and investors will be keen to see whether a pick-up in mergers and acquisitions has offset an industry-wide drop-off in trading activity.

Computer trading is likely behind the Dow's recent 1,000 point plunge intraday Thursday. These machines account for the vast majority of stock trading, but there's very little understanding of their role and impact on markets. We urgently need more transparency.