Written for students and business neophytes alike, it provides a thorough grounding in the art of investing. Defines the basic types of securities and the concepts of risk and return; explains how the securities market operates; shows how to analyze securities step-by-step; explores the issues of administering investments in stocks, tax shelters, real estate and other investments; and deals with the special situations that might arise in convertibles, commodities and derivative securities. Financial analysis from a global perspective is included.

Benton E. Gup holds the Robert Hunt Cochrane/Alabama Bankers Association Chair at the University of Alabama. Dr. Gup is the author or editor of twenty-nine books, and his articles on financial subjects have appeared in leading finance journals. His most recent books are The Valuation Handbook and The Financial and Economic Crises: An International Perspective. In 2009, Dr. Gup was awarded the Midwest Finance Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.