Stocks
A stock is an undivisible unit of ownership interest in a corporation, today most often dematerialized. A stockowner (or a stockholder) is entitled to part of the property and profit of a joint-stock company and has the right to vote in the assembly, the right of priority when buying newly issued stocks, and the like. Stocks are issued without maturity.
The most common motivations for investing in stocks are capital yield (the expected increase in the market value of stocks) and dividend yield (the expected future dividends). Combined, as a rule, they have a potentially higher yield than more conservative investments and savings instruments.
There are two basic types of stocks: ordinary and preferred. An ordinary stock provides the stockholder with the right to vote at the stockholders assembly and the right to the payout of a portion of profits. Preferred stocks generally do not have voting rights, but often give priority in payout of dividends and other preferential rights (as defined in the articles of association of the joint-stock company).
Stocks are usually introduced to the market through an Initial Public Offering, and most trading takes place on secondary markets (stock exchanges). ZB Trader Global trading platform allows online trading with more than 19,000 stocks on most global markets. ZB Trader HR trading platform allows online trading of stocks of Croatian companies on the Zagreb Stock Exchange.