INTERVAL FUND

An interval fund is a type of investment company that periodically offers to repurchase its shares from shareholders. That is, the fund periodically offers to buy back a stated portion of its shares from shareholders. Shareholders are not required to accept these offers and sell their shares back to the fund. Legally, interval funds are classified as closed-end… Continue reading INTERVAL FUND

INTERNET FRAUD

The Internet allows individuals or companies to communicate with a large audience without spending a lot of time, effort, or money. Anyone can reach tens of thousands of people by building an Internet Web site, posting a message on an online bulletin board, entering a discussion in a live “chat” room, or sending mass e-mails.… Continue reading INTERNET FRAUD

INTEREST

The price paid for borrowing money. It is expressed as a percentage rate over a period of time. Interest rates may be fixed, meaning the rate is set and will not change, or may be variable or “floating,” meaning the rate may move higher or lower over time.

INSIDER TRADING

Illegal insider trading refers generally to buying or selling a security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence, on the basis of material, nonpublic information about the security. Insider trading violations may also include “tipping” such information, securities trading by the person “tipped,” and securities trading by those who… Continue reading INSIDER TRADING

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS: ELIGIBILITY TO GET SHARES AT BROKER-DEALERS

No brokerage firm can guarantee you will be able to purchase shares in an initial public offering (IPO). While it can be difficult for individual investors to buy IPO shares, more firms, including several online brokers, offer IPOs.  Because these firms often have a small allotment of shares to sell to the public, your ability… Continue reading INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS: ELIGIBILITY TO GET SHARES AT BROKER-DEALERS

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS, WHY INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING SHARES

The underwriters and the company that issues the shares control the IPO process. They have wide latitude in allocating IPO shares. The SEC does not regulate the business decision of how IPO shares are allocated. While smaller or individual investors are finding it easier to buy IPO shares through online brokerage firms, they may still… Continue reading INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS, WHY INDIVIDUALS HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING SHARES

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING (IPO)

An initial public offering, or IPO, generally refers to when a company first sells its shares to the public. For more information about IPOs generally, see our Investor Bulletin. You can also find fast answers on why investors have difficulty getting shares in an IPO, a brokerage firm’s IPO eligibility requirements, and lockup agreements.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO INVESTMENT COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS

Before you invest in any traditional investment company—such as a mutual fund, closed-end fund, or unit investment trust (UIT)—you should read the fund’s prospectus and any other available information from the fund. Below you’ll find descriptions of the different types of information that investment companies provide to investors. For information available to exchange-traded fund (ETF) investors, please refer to that separate… Continue reading INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO INVESTMENT COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS

INFORMATION ABOUT SOME COMPANIES NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE SEC

Investors are sometimes surprised to learn the SEC does not have information about all companies that offer and sell securities. When a company conducts a registered offering or an exempt offering under Regulation A or Regulation Crowdfunding, the company is required to file information about the company, including financial statements, and a description of the offering with the… Continue reading INFORMATION ABOUT SOME COMPANIES NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE SEC