Many years ago, worldwide, buyers and sellers were individual investors, such as wealthy businessmen, with long family histories (and emotional ties) to particular corporations. Over time, markets have become more “institutionalized”; buyers and sellers are largely institutions (e.g., pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, hedge funds, investor groups, and banks). The rise of the institutional investor has brought with it some improvements in market operations. Thus, the government was responsible for “fixed” (and exorbitant) fees being markedly reduced for the ’small’ investor, but only after the large institutions had managed to break the brokers’ solid front on fees (they then went to ‘negotiated’ fees, but only for large institutions). (more…)
May 27, 2008
Stock market investment game
United States Patent 6,446,970
Abstract
A game apparatus for teaching players issues related to investments and the stock market is disclosed. A game board is provided that describes a pathway for player movement thereon. Player movement about the game board is determined according to the roll of a die. The game board includes, playing spaces associated with: 1. players’ action of trading commodities; 2. increase or decrease in the value of commodities; 3. ownership of individual companies; 4. extraction of gold from a mine; 5. market rumors; 6. company rumors; market news; 6. company news; 7. stock trading options, and: 8. change in interest rates.
May 23, 2008
Internet marketing current culture
In the beginning there were only a few people doing Internet marketing, but over time many people have come to see the benefits of working from home with an online business. Unfortunately, a large number of Internet entrepreneurs have failed in their search for online success because of an explosion of sites that profess to show people how to make millions while charging a small amount to do so. These sites have created a sense of disillusion as many people ignore the fact making money online needs to be treated like a real business.
May 14, 2008
Direct marketing channels
Any medium that can be used to deliver a communication to a customer can be employed in direct marketing.
Direct mail
Probably the most commonly used medium for direct marketing is direct mail, in which marketing communications are sent to customers using the postal service. In many developed countries, direct mail represents such a significant amount of the total volume of mail that special rate classes have been established. In the United States and United Kingdom, for example, there are bulk mail rates that enable marketers to send mail at rates that are substantially lower than regular first-class rates. In order to qualify for these rates, marketers must format and sort the mail in particular ways – which reduces the handling (and therefore costs) required by the postal service. (more…)