Stock market

A company may raise money on the stock market or stock exchange (a market place for buying and selling shares). It can issue shares (US stocks), or units of its capital, to institutional investors or the general public. Different types of shares or equities are available, but the most common are known as ordinary or common shares (US common stocks). When an investor buys a share, using the services of a specialist company or broker, he or she becomes a shareholder (US stockholder) and owns a part of (or has a stake in) a company. Shareholders can make money by receiving dividends, paid as a proportion of a company's annual profits, and when the value of their shares increases.A company can also borrow money from investors by issuing bonds, loans for fixed periods with fixed interest rates.Securities refer to both shares and bonds. Each year billions of shares and bonds are sold or traded on the world's major stock exchanges. Many companies are authorized to use the stock exchange to trade their shares. Every day, the press gives prices and other information about the shares of the listed companies. Many newspapers have a financial section which includes information about the share prices of listed companies. This information enables people to follow the progress of any share the he or she owns or may be thinking of buying. If you decide to invest a part of your savings on the stock market you can contact a broker for further advice about how to do this, and a broker recommends you a selection of companies' shares the you might be interested in buying. He also explains how these companies have performed in the past and how much you can expect to receive in dividends. The broker tells you how the transaction will be carried out and lets you know how much commission you will have to pay for the service. Once you agree to the terms, the broker contacts his representative on the stock exchange, who arranges the transaction. At the end of the day the transaction usually is completed and you becomes a shareholder. Every day more and more people take an interest in the stock exchange, because they realize that they must take responsibility for their own financial future. Therefore they must think carefully about their savings and find a way to gain the maximum return on their money. This is the main reason but besides the easy excess to the internet resources gives the chances to more and more people to log on as many times as they want.

TOPIC: TRAVELLING TEXT A. DIFFERENT MEANS OF TRAVEL

Alex: Personally I hate seeing people off. I prefer being seen off myself. I'm extremely fond of travelling and feel terri­bly envious of any friend who is going anywhere. I can't help feeling I should so much like to be in his place.Bert: But what method of travelling do you prefer? A.: For me there is nothing like travel by air; it is more comfortable, more convenient and of course far quicker than any other method. There is none of the dust and dirt of a rail­way or car journey, none of the trouble of changing from train to steamer and then to another train. Besides, flying is a thrill­ing thing. Don't you agree?В.: I think I should like to say a word or two for trains. With a train you have speed, comfort and pleasure com­bined. From the comfortable corner seat of a railway car­riage you have a splendid view of the whole countryside. If you are hungry, you can have a meal in the dining-car; and if the journey is a long one you can have a wonderful bed in a sleeper. Besides, do you know any place that's more interesting than a big railway-station? There is the movement, the excitement, the gaiety of people going away or waiting to meet friends. There are the shouts of the porters as they pull luggage along the platforms to the waiting trains, the crowd at the booking-office getting tickets, the hungry and thirsty ones hurrying to the refreshment rooms before the train starts. No, really! Do you know a more exciting place than a big railway-station?

С е с i 1: I do.

A.: And that is? C.: A big sea port. For me there is no travel so fine as by boat. I love to feel the deck of the boat under my feet, to see the rise and fall of the waves, to feel the fresh sea wind blowing in my face and hear the cry of the sea-gulls. And what excitement, too, there is in coming into the harbour and seeing round us all the ships, steamers, cargo-ships, sail­ing ships, rowing boats.

A.: Well, I suppose that's all right for those that like it, but not for me. I'm always seasick, especially when the sea is a little bit rough. В.: I've heard that a good cure for seasickness is a small piece of dry bread. A.: Maybe; but I think a better cure is a large piece of dry land.

David: Well, you may say what you like about aeroplane flights, sea voyages, railway journeys or tours by car, but give me a walking tour any time. What does the motorist see of the country? But the walker leaves the dull broad highway and goes along little winding lanes where cars can't go. He takes mountain paths through the heather, he wanders by the side of quiet lakes and through the shade of woods. He sees the real country, the wild flowers, the young birds in their nests, the deer in the forest; he feels the quietness and calm of nature.And besides, you are saving your railway fare travelling j on foot. No one can deny that walking is the cheapest meth­od of travelling. So I say: a walking tour for me.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-03