Stock Markets Exposed

question about online stock trading?

I am a beginner in stocks and want to do online stock trading. I would like to invest and buy shares from small companies/ buy stocks before they come to market. How can i see the list of these stocks and what site/program is best to do this for a beginner?

Public Comments

1. I think there's some confusion in what you are trying to do. In general, you cannot buy shares in companies that are not publicly traded. Therefore, you have to wait until they "come to market". You can buy shares of companies that will just start to trade (IPO offers) but that is best left to very, high risk investors (groups with large capital). If you are just starting, my suggestion is to begin your learning on large cap, heavily traded, long history stocks. It might sound as exotic but you're not looking to be exotic. You're looking to learn how to trade. I'm not trying to dissuade you from your intention. Just trying to help. Good luck.
2. Okay, so you're talking about two things..( small companies and new to the market )...Small companies are called " small cap" stocks...and they may or may not have small prices...and also you'll learn as you go along, that a small price is not necessarily a cheap price.( There's more to this than meets the eye ! Especially at first glance.) Your other request is impossible...you cannot buy " before they come to the market"... they have to be ON the market before you can buy !! Maybe you're thinking of IPO's ..companies that are just " going public"...Yahoo/finance and/or moneycentral/msn have IPO " calendars" on their sites...that's where you will find the companies, dates, prices, etc of companies you might be looking for...once you get the names and dates, however you would still have to read everything you can find about these new companies...and that's not easy to do because no one " tracks" them like they do for companies that are already trading. Sooooo what you end up with is a " crapshoot"..." hit or miss"... " shot in the dark"...... you can have a big winner or totally fall on your face. So, my advice ESPECIALLY for a " beginner in stocks" is instead invest in one or two companies or ETF's that you know something about or have a feeling about...is the future in alternative energy? or will big oil keep making money? Gamestop keeps selling and making money...should I buy there? etc, etc.
3. I agree with the answer above. If you still wish to invest in companies before their stocks "come to market" then you are talking about private equity and venture capital. There are hundreds of thousands fo companies looking for this kind of capital from investors. They plan on going public in the future. You should be very skilled in business and investing before you undertake a private equity investment.
4. you will not get any good ones before they come to market...........they are offered to the GOOD(SPEND A LOT) CUSTOMERS.............I was spending a lot (trading) before I was offered anything decent..........