This account of the sophisticated financial hub that was 17th-century Amsterdam “does a fine job of bringing history to life” (Library Journal). The launch of the Dutch East India Company in 1602 initiated Amsterdam’s transformation from a regional market town into a dominant financial center. The Company introduced easily transferable shares, and within days buyers had begun to trade them. Soon the public was engaging in a variety of complex transactions, including forwards, futures, options, and bear raids, and by 1680 the techniques deployed in the Amsterdam market were as sophisticated as any we practice today. Lodewijk Petram’s award-winning history demystifies financial instruments by linking today’s products to yesterday’s innovations, tying the market’s operation to the behavior of individuals and the workings of the world around them. Traveling back in time, Petram visits the harbor and other places where merchants met to strike deals. He bears witness to the goings-on at a notary’s office and sits in on the consequential proceedings of a courtroom. He describes in detail the main players, investors, shady characters, speculators, and domestic servants and other ordinary folk, who all played a role in the development of the market and its crises. His history clarifies concerns that investors still struggle with today—such as fraud, the value of information, trust and the place of honor, managing diverging expectations, and balancing risk—and does so in a way that is vivid, relatable, and critical to understanding our contemporary world.

This book is the first that describes the practices of any stock exchange; it makes evident a high development of practices, with puts, calls, pools, and manipulations; and it appeared as early as the seventeenth century. Not inappropriately the stock exchange described is that of Amsterdam, a city which at the date of the volume’s publication —1688 — was still the leading financial center of the world. The book, to be sure, is hardly a systematic account of the institution; the author pursued moral, philosophical, and rhetorical objectives, and, while saying a lot that seems now to be of little value, manages somehow to leave unsaid a great deal that would be of interest for us. Nevertheless, it represents, even in its peculiar form, a really important source of information about the stock exchange, and indeed about the Dutch business world of that period.

Bisweilen schießen die Finanzmärkte entgegen allen Erwartungen in die Höhe und verschaffen den Investoren so überdurchschnittlich hohe Renditen von 35% und mehr in einem einzigen Jahr. Einmal ist es der Aktienmarkt, dann der Rentenmarkt oder der Immobilienmarkt. Dies ist das erste Buch, das den Versuch unternimmt, zu erklären, warum bestimmte Investitionen zu verschiedenen Zeiten in die Höhe geschnellt sind, damit Investoren ähnliche Trends in Zukunft rechtzeitig erkennen können. Jedes Kapitel vermittelt dem Leser einen echten Einblick in die Ereignisse der 10 besten Hausse-Jahre des vergangenen Jahrhunderts. Unterhaltsam und fesselnd geschrieben, gespickt mit zahlreichen historischen Anekdoten und schillernden Persönlichkeiten aus der jeweiligen Zeit, ist dieses Buch eine willkommene Lektüre nicht nur für Investoren, Finanzexperten, Journalisten und Studenten der Finanz- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften, sondern ebenso für Interessierte Laien. (01/98)

The new edition of Janette Rutterford's classic textbook has been updated to take account of all practical, technical and legal developments since the last edition was published. Now enhanced by a range of student-friendly features, the focus remains on the London Stock Exchange, but a global perspective is adopted where appropriate. Also available is a companion website with extra features to accompany the text, please take a look by clicking below - http://www.palgrave.com/business/rutterford/

The book "Stocks and Exchange - the only Book you need" is intended for the general public from 11 to 85 years. Although the book is easily understandable, it describes in detail the parameters, which are ideal for safe and profitable investments in stocks or companies - whether short term or long term. When to sell or buy? This is technical and fundamental analysis at its finest. Which stocks can finance your pension with dividend payments? This book is the result of many years of practice and study of relevant literature. The book describes the strategies of the most famous investors and also my own experiences with stocks. Investment funds and pension insurance are discussed. The book contains a little information on business economics for investors and a lot of important information about the business on the stock exchange. The courses of three economic crises and crashes are investigated. The small lexicon explains 195 technical terms. There are some case studies about investors, companies and their stocks. Also described is the investment in gold, commodities and derivatives. Because the state expects ever more personal responsibility for your retirement arrangements, this book is also a very meaningful gift for your younger family members. Unfortunately there are only very few profound and above all honest books on shares thereby making this one all the more valuable.