401(k) Contributions Hit 10-Year High

The average 401(k) savings hit a 10-year high at the end of 2012 to nearly $72,000, an increase of nearly 12 percent from a year earlier. The popularity of 401(k) plans is largely due to the fact that they are suspended from taxation and frequently include a matched contribution from the employer. As a result, in the United States 401(k) plans have been the principal method for saving retirement funds largely replacing the retirement pension system.

Information About Trading in Fast-Moving Markets

The price of some stocks, especially recent hot IPOs and high tech stocks can soar and drop suddenly. In these fast markets, when many investors want to trade at the same time and prices change quickly, delays can develop across the board. Executions and confirmation slow down while reports of prices lag behind actual prices. In these markets, investors can suffer unexpected losses very quickly.

Convertible Securities

A convertible security is a security - usually a bond or a preferred stock - that can be converted into a different security - typically shares of the companys common stock. In most cases, the holder of the convertible determines whether and when a conversion occurs. In other cases, the company may retain the right to determine when the conversion occurs.

After-Hours Trading: Understanding the Risks

The highest volume market centers today have traditionally been open for business from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST. Although trading outside that window - or after-hours trading - has occurred for some time, it has been mostly limited to high net-worth investors and institutional investors.