What are Penny Stocks?...

You have probably heard the term thrown around here and there. On the news or over dinner with our coworkers or in-laws. We know what stocks are, but do we know what these things called penny stocks are? Well, here is a chance to find out.

Definition

If you go looking for a dictionary definition for “penny stock”, you probably won’t have much luck. . The definition seems to be in a constant state of change. In the past, a penny stock was a stock that traded for less than a dollar per share, hence the coining, no pun intended, of the term “penny stock”. The Securities and Exchange Commission has since modified that definition. We now know penny stocks to be stocks, or shares, that trade below the value of five dollars.

Risky Investments

Wondering why a stock that is valued at more than a dollar can still be called a penny stock? Well, the name doesn’t really rely so much on the monetary amount of the share, it is more how the share is viewed by traders. In this case, penny shares are called penny stocks because when they were given that name, they were perceived as very risky investments. And that perception still reigns among traders today. Penny stocks typically have low trading volumes and limited attention from investors because of this high risk factor. Also adding to the risk is the fact that penny stocks are typically growing companies with limited cash and resources, and they are susceptible to different forms of market manipulation, forms that are less prevalent and more difficult to employ in stocks that belong to larger companies. So, while penny stocks can be lucrative for educated and experienced traders, it is always good to be wise and know exactly where you are investing.

Innovations in Dictation Software Make it a Valuab...

Innovation is technology has over the last few years grown in leaps and bounds. There are vastly better ways to perform tasks that in the past were cumbersome or required more effort than they should. One area of software development, which has increasingly become more reliable and efficient in the last few years, is dictation software. If you are a business professional, you are aware of how difficult it can be to both brainstorm and document your ideas simultaneously. If you are fortunate enough to have at your disposal a secretary to take documentation, you are one of a very small percentage.

Employees are a Valuable Asset

The reality of today’s business climate is that most companies and certainly most small to mid-sized companies cannot afford such luxuries any longer. This is not bad news; it really is an indication of the level of talent that is out there. The truth is your employees are too valuable and talented to utilize for the purpose of dictation. And more good news is you can be just as effective by using a software dictation solution.

Dictation Software Offers Solutions to Help Move your Business Forward

Dictation software allows users to respond faster than they normally would if they had to type out responses. Imagine how easy it is to procrastinate when you have a stack of emails to respond to and you need to sit down and type out responses. You can move very quickly through an inbox with dictation software. Dictation software allows for a more detailed comprehensive feedback since, for most people, it is easy to speak in detail and not lose your train of thought, something that happens quite easily when typing. A dictated response allows for a more spontaneous approach to writing, this can be valuable when you are brainstorming or working in as part of a team on a project. Click here for more information on dictation software.

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Serving A Purpose Even In Hard Times...

From a Human Resources standpoint, there is another function for audio conferencing that most people would seriously rather not think about, that being mass layoffs. The recent economic downturn has hit home for millions of Americans. Some are still trying to get by on unemployment benefits that, in some cases, equal only a fraction of what a person's income had been.

Cold Calls

A good many companies, however, weren't firing people out of any particular malice, and are just now beginning to hire again. They were cutting their labor expenses in order to keep their doors open. In that same vein, the use of audio conferencing remains in line with their stated goal, which is to save money. One such employer, pharmaceuticals maker Sanofi-Aventis, did just that late last year. It's bad enough to lose one's job, and just before Christmas at that, but to be fired via a conference call? Some 1,700 employees were left aghast.

Was The Fax Machine Broken?

Audio conference layoffs, while heartless on the surface, are certainly more personal in nature than a mass e-mail would have been. That didn't keep bruises from forming, as many compared the firing to the movie Up In The Air (which follows a professional corporate downsizer in his quest to rack up 10 million airline miles). But would it really better for anyone to conduct such unfortunate downsizing events in a face-to-face manner?

The real potential harm could be that which the employer does to itself with such tactics. For one thing, it's not exactly a morale-building exercise for the employees who remain with the company for... however much longer. Withering morale is proven to be directly tied to decreased production. Hopefully, it all worked out for everyone, and other companies were able to learn from the mistakes - real or perceived - that were made by Sanofi-Aventis.