Topic: Investment Brokerages

Facebook IPO: Six key dates in its debacle

Facebook's first week as a publicly traded company will go down as a terribly botched corporate launch, perhaps one of the worst in recent history for such a highly visible entity. Eight days ago, it was the tech world's most highly anticipated initial public offering in eight years. Now, the social media company faces mounting legal woes and serves as an embarrassing example of how not to run an IPO. Despite rising insider pessimism about its growth prospects, Facebook kept boosting its asking price and the number of shares it would sell. The result: billions of dollars in losses; investigations by two congressional committees, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an industry watchdog, and the state of Massachusetts; at least 13 class-action lawsuits; and thousands of resentful shareholders who days later still were unsure how many Facebook shares they had or at what price. Here are six key dates in Facebook's unfolding IPO disaster.

Facebook stock falls 11 percent in second trading day

Facebook shares close down $4.20 in Monday trading. Facebook stock dropped so much Monday morning that 'circuit breakers' kicked in to restrict sell orders.

Will the Facebook IPO save online brokers?

Yet another group may benefit greatly from the Facebook IPO: brokerage firms.

Osama bin Laden papers: top 5 revelations

A new trove of letters seized during the Osama bin Laden raid paint an intimate picture of the inner workings and struggles of Al Qaeda, from its dabbling in the stock market to practices that would make any Mafia don proud.

Big brokerage firms aren't paying attention to their clients

As financial firms become bigger and bigger, they are focused on corporate profitability over the satisfaction of their brokers and clients.

The end of the small brokerage firm

The era of the small brokerage firm is gradually coming to a close as several of the most well-regarded boutique brokers call it quits.

Bank stocks: 2012 could be a very good year

While it's been a hard year for bank stocks, news could pick up next year – if politics in the US and Europe settle down first. For investors in bank stocks, that's a big 'if.'

Auction-rate securities: Raymond James agrees to buy them back

Auction-rate securities – representing corporate debt – were sold to investors by Raymond James as 'same as cash.' In settlement with regulators, the firm agreed to buy back $280 million worth of the auction-rate securities.

Top 4 tips to keep your broker honest

Maybe individual investors can’t fix the broad regulatory breakdown that has allowed financial frauds to occur, like dodgy mortgage-backed securities and Bernie Madoff’s pyramid scheme. But they can take steps to protect themselves against unscrupulous financial advisers. Knowledge is the best weapon. The more investors know, the less likely they are to be taken advantage of by a dishonest broker. Here are four ways you can ensure your broker is following the rules:

Guess who’s hiring again

A recent survey found that brokerage and financial advisory firms are starting to add new employees again

Stocks end mixed. Best first quarter since 1998.

Stocks closed out the quarter with the Dow gaining 742 points, its biggest first-quarter point gain in more than a decade and its biggest percentage gain since 1994.

Stock brokers keep leaving brokerages

Stock brokers are finding that affiliation with a big-name brokerage may be hurting their business.

Nigeria, poised for big growth, aims to be the next 'BRIC' country

Nigeria – the No. 3 supplier of US oil – says that by 2012 the country will be growing by 10 percent per year. Some economists agree.

The Dow average didn't tank because of one fat finger

The 1,000 point fall in the Dow average was caused by more than a fat finger mistake.

US stocks hit 2009 highs, but investors cautious

Banking giant UBS, US reach deal over secret Swiss accounts

Agreement averts a legal showdown, for now, over case involving US pursuit of tax evasion.

Financial Q&A: Why artwork and IRAs should never mix

Submit your question to Steve Dinnen at: money@csmonitor.com

Financial firms need 'nutrition labels'

Wouldn't it be nice to know that your money is safe?

Europe pushed to produce its own rescue plans

Three major lenders were rescued on Monday as the global credit crisis spread.

As Wall Street tumbles, the world quakes

Markets from London to Tokyo fell on the news of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy.

The sunny side of Wall Street

Lehman Bros. had to fall to help return financial markets to the basics of honest market value.

Lehman: This time, feds let a big bank fall

As venerable Wall Street firms succumb to the home loan crisis, focus shifts to limiting taxpayer cost.

Economic slump: Ethics loom large

Compared with previous recessions, the last two downturns can be pinned more on greed.

Efforts to regulate 'Wild West' markets are long overdue

Moves by the Fed and the Treasury to prop up mortgage giants are a welcome sign.