How to Monitor Stock Prices in Microsoft Excel

Open a blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
Click on a cell where you want to show a stock price.
Click on 'Data' in the top menu bar.
Scroll down to 'Import External Data,' then over to 'New Web Query.'
In the window that pops up, type the URL http://finance.yahoo.com in the address.
Enter the stock symbol you wish to track. Be sure to double check that you entered the correct stock symbol by checking the company name that shows.
Scroll down to 'Last trade:' and click on the arrow to the left. The arrow will change to a check mark. The data highlighted will be shown on your spreadsheet.
Choose the data you wish to be in your spreadsheet, then click on the 'Import' button at the bottom of the window. You may choose to add any data with an arrow next to it into your spreadsheet by clicking on the arrow to the left of the data.
Verify the cell where you want the data to appear when prompted. You can click on any cell in the spreadsheet if you wish to change the location. Click on 'OK' after choosing the cell.
Save the spreadsheet. You can update the stock price(s) any time by clicking on 'Data' in the top menu bar. Then scroll down to 'Refresh Data' and click on it.
Know that you can also update the stock prices in the 'External Data' toolbar. Just click on the red exclamation point in that toolbar.

How to Calculate Stock Worth

Determine the ticker symbol for the stock in which you are interested. There are numerous websites that provide the ticker symbol when you type the name of the company into a web form.
Enter the ticker symbol into a website that offers stock quotes. The quote that the website returns is the price of one share of that stock as of that moment unless a time delay is specified.
Multiply the price of one share by the number of shares you own, and the result is the worth of your position in that stock.

How to Choose a Stock Broker (10 Steps)

Build a list of potential brokers. Many names are part of the culture. Take Merrill Lynch and TD Ameritrade, two well known companies. One gives full service the other discount. Choose a name with a good history. Read the reviews for stock brokers at the consumersearch website.
Compare minimum cash needed to open an account. This varies from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Analyze your personal financial situation and how much money you have to put upfront.
Determine the type of investments you want to make. Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, options are some main choices. Look at your potential list to see which company offers the right investment vehicles.
Pick a full service broker. Their service costs more but for the most part leaves investment decisions with the broker. See the customer ratings before you apply. Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS are a few of the big names. See the annual full-service rankings at the smartmoney website.
Choose a discount broker. Make your own investment decisions with a discount online broker. Save money on commissions and fees. Look at the big names and compare, such as TD Ameritrade, E-Trade and Scottrade.
See how much each stock order costs. Online trades are less expensive. A broker assisted trade is much higher per transaction.
Check out additional fees. These range from inactivity fees to maintenance fees. Each stock broker will list their fees and all have websites containing this information.
Think about the services you want. Level II quotes, interactive charts, streaming news, check writing and research are good tools for the investor.
Look at local office locations. Make sure an office is reasonably near your home, more so with a full service broker.
Talk to your potential broker on the phone. Prepare questions in advance and get a feel for the person. Choose a firm that you can rely on and trust.

How to Check the Stock Market

Compile a list of the stocks that you currently own and those that you have interest in purchasing. It is almost impossible to monitor and track all of the stocks available, therefore developing a list of those that you have direct interest in is important.
Create a portfolio of your current holdings including share amounts and purchase prices. This can be done simply with a spreadsheet or with an on-line portfolio tracking program. This will help you keep your information well organized.
Sign up for alerts by ticker symbol for stocks that you have the highest interest in. This can be done through various on-line sites including Yahoo Finance and Google Finance. This type of alert system should also be available to you should you have an on-line trading account. In addition, periodically review market overview information at the home page of finance web sites.yahoo.comgoogle.com
Read all information on company websites and general news sites. A fast way to find information on a company that you are interested in is to search the web based on the trading symbol of the company.
Download and install financial trading and monitoring applications to your personal computer, laptop and smart phone to make sure that you have the ability to check the stock market whenever you need to. The benefit of technology is that investors have the ability to check the stock market as they need to and no longer check only the closing price printed in newspapers.
Develop and maintain a schedule to track and monitor the stock market so that you become accustomed to doing so on a regular and routine basis. Stock market investors learn through experience, knowledge and consistency. Letting your knowledge base lapse is a fast way to fall out of favor with the market as it changes so often and so fast.