Pink Sheets and Penny Stocks Trading

Pink Sheets is where most of the penny stocks getwon't to divulge much to the market. Since most of
traded. However, this small market is just like thethem are embarking on a new business venture, they
Wild West with no rules and no oversight. Do youwant the market to keep on guessing. Telling the
want to take part in this exciting small market thanmarket everything at this stage can be detrimental
you should first do your due diligence and researchto their future prospects. But this lack of information
before you decide to take the plunge.about these companies makes many investors
There are no rules on these Pink Sheets as I havenervous about them and forces them to stay away
said before. So, companies that get their pennyfrom investing in Pink Sheets Penny Stocks.
stocks traded on them have no compulsion toThere is another complication on these Pink Sheets.
disclose any of their financial statements or issueMany market makers on these sheets charge high
even their annual reports. Many companies that getspreads. For example, the bid price of a penny stock
listed on these sheets have no ultimate desire tomaybe something like $0.05 but the ask price of that
move on to the bigger markets like OTCBB (Oversame penny stock maybe $0.25. This spread of $0.2
The Counter Bulletin Board), NASDAQ or even NYSE.between the bid and ask is meant o discourage
Many may even have no on going concerns.buyers from that penny stock. But why? The reason
Now, don't take this to mean that most of theseis this that if that penny stock has a thin market and
companies are just mom and pop storesthe market maker is afraid that he will be stuck up
masquerading as companies. There are something likewith that stock for a long time, the market maker
20,000 stocks listed on these pink sheets. Thesewill try to charge a high spread.
companies have their own reasons to stay on theseBut, you can still find many penny stocks on these
sheets.pink sheets that have a spread of only one cent. So,
The reason for this can be the company's desire foras an investor if you want trade penny stocks listed
privacy. Getting listed on OTCBB may cause a loss ofon these pink sheets do your research, you many
privacy for these companies as SEC requires tofind many hidden gems. Most of these penny stocks
know exactly how each executive is beinghave been beaten down to such a low price that
compensated and how the company owns assets.they get traded below their book value. So don't
Now most of these companies that are listed on Pinkhesitate to take part in this exciting opportunity. Just
Sheets are in their startup phase meaning they don'tdo your research and due diligence!