Finance Website
A finance website is a website that specializes in the collection and presentation of financial data. The proliferation of the Internet has led to explosive growth in the online finance sector. This in turn has led to the creation of numerous financial websites.
A financial website may be free, subscription-based, or some combination of both. Listed below are the top 5 financial websites on the Internet.
- Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance is the Internet’s top provider of financial information. In May 2008, comScore reported more than 18 million U.S.-based visitors to the website.
Yahoo! Finance offers stock quotes, exchange rates, financial and corporate press releases, financial reports of publicly held companies, and a very popular finance public message board. The success of the website is attributed to its integration with other Yahoo! services, along with an overwhelming portion of the financial data being offered free of charge. Subscription members receive real-time stock quotes. Free members receive stock quotes with a 15 minute delay. Yahoo! Finance also offers financial reports that can be purchased on a per-report basis.
- Bloomberg.com
Bloomberg.com is owned and operated by Bloomberg L.P. and was founded by now New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg is regarded as a premiere finance website for news and financial information. The website offers market news, market data, personal finance tools, and online access to Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. The website strives to be a one-stop source for all your financial data and information needs.
The website offers both free and paid services. Subscription members receive real-time stock quotes, historical financial news, and extended finance research tools.
- Google Finance
Google Finance was launched on March 21, 2006. It was a late-comer to the finance website game. The website offers stock quotes, market data, currency exchange rates, and various company and financial reports. Up until November of 2008 the website was offered advertising free.
Google pioneered real-time stock quotes for free members. In June 2008 both NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange partnered with Google to offer free real-time stock quotes for all web visitors.
- Forbes.com
Forbes.com is owned and operated by American media and publishing company Forbes. The website was launched in 1996. Like the magazine, Forbes.com places special emphasis on the lifestyles of billionaires. The website posts many lists that focus on billionaires, their homes, and their possessions.
Forbes.com offers stock quotes, market data, and video. The site also offers subscription-based investment newsletters.
- The Motley Fool
The Motley Fool contains information on stocks, personal finance, and investing. It is a private company and was founded in July 1993. The company employs around 200 people. The company has been online since 1994 and is one of the earliest financial websites.
In September 2006 the company introduced Motley Fool CAPS, a service that monitors and ranks the stock picks of site members. The service provides a unique insight into the “collective” mind of investors. Top CAPS stocks routinely outperform the broader markets.
The website also offers stock quotes, market data, company data, and investing reports. Subscription based services include numerous newsletters including Stock Advisor (a stock picking service).
Although these are the current top-rated finance websites, don’t be afraid to try others. There are numerous finance sites out there that offer superb financial information.