Stocks 101:

Stocks represent ownership shares in a company. When you buy a stock, you become a part-owner of that company and can benefit from its growth through price increases or dividends.

Dividend stocks are shares of companies that regularly distribute part of their profits to shareholders, providing a steady income on top of potential price gains.

Stocks can be categorised by company size or investment style, for example, large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, or value and growth stocks, each offering different risk and return profiles.

• Stock market opening hours vary by country. For example, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) typically opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, while European exchanges follow their local business hours.

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) pool investors’ money to buy a diversified basket of assets, such as stocks or bonds, and trade on exchanges just like individual stocks.

Yes, many ETFs distribute dividends from the underlying assets they hold. The frequency and amount depend on the ETF’s structure and the companies included in its portfolio.

Focus on your investment goals and compare ETFs based on factors like performance, fees, diversification, and risk profile. Fundamental and technical analysis can help you evaluate which funds align with your strategy.

You can invest in commodities either directly by buying physical metals like gold or indirectly through ETCs, ETFs, or commodity-related stocks. Direct investments offer tangible assets but require storage, while indirect options provide broader access and diversification but can involve higher complexity or risk.