Delayed online stock prices may soon be a thing of the past

From the Google blog:

At Google, we get excited about making all kinds of information accessible to everyone. The more up-to-date the information, the more valuable it is. This is particularly true in the world of finance; information, and timing of that information, is money. Today, real-time quotes are not freely and easily available on the web. Some websites offer one real-time quote at a time, but typically only after you have enrolled in a service and/or signed a complicated legal agreement. Other sites approach the problem differently and show you streaming delayed data, but that doesn't solve the problem either -- it masks it. What's really important is getting free, easy and fast access to real-time quotes so you know how the market or your company is doing now, not as of twenty minutes ago.

Link to full article

Stock picks listed for 1-3-07

Well folks, your picks have been purchased at today's closing prices. Since we have more players, running a LOT more stocks, I have put a bit of work into more automation for the site this time around. One positive is that I no longer have to update daily totals - only log in your buy and sell orders. This should make things a bit easier overall for me.

I have also changed the sidebar to show both the current price AND number of shares held - this way if there's an error, we can find it quicker. I think it will be interesting to see how things progress - please keep in mind that any buys posted BEFORE close of market will be bought at closing price that day. And buys posted AFTER close of market will be bought THE NEXT DAY at close. The same holds true for sells.

Dad starts pulling away...

I notice that Dad is now starting to pull away... Al is losing ground with some of his picks but so far OII is saving him. Chris is being relentlessly hammered by what I honestly think were good picks with bad luck. Todd is doing well also, and I've moved from the 'safe' position of Google to speculate on a couple other stocks (MSFT, EBAY) who might be interested in acquiring a weakened Yahoo in the hopes of making up some ground.

What will this week bring? Are the stock hopes of the folks toward the back of the pack going to continue to be haunted by the ghosts of bad luck, or will they pull some treats out of their bags and begin gaining ground? Only time will tell...

Monday's gains

Well today I'm pleased to say that everyone who invested, made money! My portfolio took an early lead when I gambled on Google - after last week's run I still thought it had some legs in it. Chris made some solid gains as well with Panera, and both Todd and I felt that the only real winner in the videogame console wars this fall would be Gamestop.

What will tomorrow bring? I can't wait to find out!

Chris' Initial Buy

Chris will be buying the following:

ACC (American Campus Communities)	748 shares
CBON (Community Bancorp)	670 shares
PNRA (Panera Bread Company)	308 shares
ALGN (Align Technology)	1415 shares
WFMI (Whole Foods Market, Inc)	308 shares

Two final competitors

Folks, we will be accepting two late entries to the competition - Alan, Todd's son, and Justin a friend of myself and Chris. Their entries will be in tonight and posted (or if late, they will simply have to live with the penalty of not being able to make any money on their picks Monday. )

All picks will be up and visible tomorrow morning - good luck to everyone!