FAST
MARKETS
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Capital
Securities Investment Corporation ("Capital Securities") seeks to
provide you with prompt market access, and current market information. Capital
Securities also wants to make clear that, under certain situations, fast market
conditions will exist in the marketplace, which may result in greater market
volatility.
Fast
Market Conditions
Markets
exhibiting unusually large trading volume and/or great price variations are
known as "fast markets". High volume conditions may occur at the
market opening, or intra-day, affecting trade execution and reporting. Fast
market conditions may be caused by various factors. A common factor is an order
imbalance - - where there are significantly greater orders of one type (such as
"buys") than another type (such as "sells"). Recently fast
market conditions have occurred with trading in high technology stocks,
particularly companies with an Internet-related business. These companies'
initial public offerings (IPO's), as well as their secondary market trading,
have often been characterized by heavy volume and large price swings, resulting
in significant volatility.
Risks
Associated with Fast or Volatile Market Conditions
Delays
in execution and trade reporting may occur in a fast market. Also, a security's
price may change very rapidly, causing significant differences between the
security's quoted price, and the ultimate execution price for that security. The
quote "size" for a security also may change rapidly, and an entire
order may not always be filled at the quoted price. As a result, there is a
substantial risk that all or part of an order may be executed at a price
substantially away from the market price quoted when the order was placed.
The
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority(FINRA) recommends that we inform you
as to certain practices by market-makers in the NASDAQ and other
over-the-counter securities markets. During normal market conditions,
market-makers often utilize automated execution systems or services for eligible
stocks, up to certain share sizes. These executions include automated price
improvement opportunities and acceptance of stop orders. However, during fast
market conditions, market-makers may decide to execute orders manually, and not
utilize such systems or services. This may result in possible delays in order
execution, resulting in executions at less favorable prices.
Limit
Orders and Market Orders
Market
Order
A
"market order" is an order to buy or sell a stock at the best
available price when the order is executed on the market. Market orders are more
likely to be filled, although not at a particular price
Limit
Order
A
"limit order" is an order to buy or sell a security at a particular
price, or better. A limit order will allow you to set a price limit, although it
will not guarantee that your order will be filled. A limit order allows you to
restrict the minimum price you are willing to receive (in the case of a sell
order) or the maximum price you are willing to pay (in the case of a buy order).
Your order will be executed at either your limit price, or at a better price to
you. However, even when the market moves to your limit price, you are not
assured an execution, because there may be other limit orders ahead of your own
order.
Use
of Limit Orders
A
limit order may reduce risk in a fast and/or volatile market. A market order may
be executed at a higher price (in the case of a buy) or at lower price (in the
case of a sell) than you had anticipated. A limit order permits you to establish
a maximum buy price, or a minimum sale price. You should consider placing limit
orders, instead of market orders, in a fast or volatile market. Again, however,
there is no guarantee in a fast market that your limit order will be executed.
During the initial day of secondary market trading in an IPO security, Capital
Securities will only accept limit orders - - Capital Securities will not accept
market orders.
Internet
Access
On
occasions, fast or volatile markets may effect your access to the internet. Due
to heavy volume, or other factors increasing system traffic, you may not be able
to obtain Internet access. Additionally, due to high volume or system capacity
limitations, you may encounter difficulties in obtaining portfolio status,
access to on-line information, or similar services offered through Capital
Securities. If you encounter difficulty in accessing the internet, we urge you
to contact us at 630-705-9800. Capital Securities will attempt to take your
order when the internet access is limited due to market conditions.
Buying
on Margin
A
margin account cannot be opened unless the customer signs a margin agreement.
Under the agreement, the customer pledges the securities that are purchased in
the account to the brokerage firm. In return for the pledge of securities, the
brokerage firm loans the customer a portion of the purchase price. If you plan
to borrow money to buy stock, you also need to know the terms of the loan your
broker gave you and the inherent risks involved. In volatile markets, an
investor who puts up an initial margin payment for the purchase of stock may be
required to deposit additional funds, (thus the term "margin call"),
in his/her account if the price of the stock falls. If you do not respond in a
timely manner, stocks in your account could be sold to cover the call and you
would be held responsible for any losses. Your broker has the legal right to
sell your securities, without consulting you first, if your account falls below
the required minimum maintenance level.
Additional
Effects of Fast Markets
Capital
Securities also may raise margin requirements for particular securities trading
under fast market conditions. Where warranted, Capital Securities may designate
a security as not marginable, in which case you will be required to purchase the
security with 100% initial margin. Increasing margin requirements helps ensure
that there is adequate equity in your margin account as protection in case of a
large change in a security's value, which reduces the likelihood that we will be
required to liquidate your account assets to meet a margin call.
Personal
computers are not a direct link to the stock market
Although
the Internet makes it seem as if you have a direct connection to the securities
market, you do not. The online investor's order generally goes through the same
process that it would, had he/she called his/her broker directly. Moreover, by
placing an order online, the investor opens the door to a host of new, potential
problems. These potential problems can consist of clogged lines, system
failure(s) anywhere between the investor's PC and the actual exchange or
electronic marketplace, and the fact that in fast markets orders can, and often
will, back up.
Delayed
Trade/Cancellation Confirmations
With
the large volume of securities being traded online, you may occasionally
experience trouble getting initial trade/cancellation confirmations after
execution/cancellation. The fact that you did not immediately receive a trade
report does not mean your order was not executed. Avoid the temptation to
re-enter the order, otherwise, you may end up entering multiple orders for the
same security that cannot be canceled. Another misconception is that an order is
canceled when you hit cancel on your computer. In fact, the order is canceled
only when the market receives the cancellation. You may receive electronic
confirmation of cancellation, but that only means your cancellation request was
received - not that your order was actually canceled.
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