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Microcap & Penny Stocks : The Hartcourt Companies, Inc. (HRCT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DDInvestor.com who wrote (747)	1/16/2000 12:04:00 PM
From: Ice Cube	Respond to of 2413

DD, have you or anyone in your group ever been fined or reprimanded in written form by the SEC, NASDAQ or any other regulatory agancy at any time during your stint at DDInvestor or before?

To: DDInvestor.com who wrote (747)	1/17/2000 12:53:00 PM
From: early player	Respond to of 2413

International News Article about HRCT in Australian Financial Review: 18Jan2000 AUSTRALIA: News - International News - China go-ahead likely for online foreign stock trading. By Michael Dwyer HONG KONG. Chinese mainlanders have not only caught the internet bug, but they could soon be allowed to trade online in foreign stocks that are driving the global dot com frenzy. According to reports by the official Xinhua news agency, the central government's Ministry of Information is considering lifting its ban on online trading in foreign companies. Beijing sees the relaxation of its online trading rules as a way to encourage local investment in the many State-owned enterprises likely to be listed this year, as well as boosting domestic demand. Opening up online trading would tap into two of the fads sweeping the Chinese mainland: share trading and surfing the internet. China now has about 40 million shareholders, although their investment choices are limited to the stock traded on the mainland's still underdeveloped equity markets. About 8 million Chinese now have access to the internet but the growth potential is enormous. According to the Wen Hui Bao newspaper, business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce rose from US$8 million to US$40 million last year. One of the major stumbling blocks for the fledgling e-commerce sector in China is the relatively high cost of buying computer equipment. But China's largest computer company, Legends Holdings Ltd, is trying to overcome this with a set-top product that uses the cable television equipment already owned by an estimated 80 million mainlanders. Only last week, Legend launched a new version of its set-top product, which it calls its new Living Room Series, which will get mainlanders onto the net far more cheaply than by more conventional means. The new 4,000 yuan ( $720) set uses Microsoft software. Although such convergence technology is still technically illegal everywhere on the mainland except in Shanghai, it is unlikely that Legend would have proceeded with the launch without some form of official sanction. A number of Chinese broking houses are already running online services, but at this stage they are not permitted to trade in foreign stock. Last November, a US-based venture capital firm, Hartcourt, won approval to set up a joint venture with the Beijing-based UAC Online Stock Trading. The new venture will link mainland Chinese customers with stockbrokers through a private network leased from China Telecom. The country's second largest broking house, Huaxia Securities, is already using the new services. But China still has a long way to catch up in the e-commerce game. The most successful e-commerce venture at this stage is probably 8848.com, an online department store launched last March. 8848.com still only has monthly sales of about US$1.5 million. The internet portal Sina.com and the provider Sohu.com have greater long-term potential, but are still in their infancy. However, that has not stopped foreign investors from leaping into the Chinese internet industry with a vengeance. They have been pumping capital into any venture that could one day tap into the giant mainland market. Copyright John Fairfax Holdings Limited 2000. Not available for re-dissemination. Source: AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW 18/01/2000 P9

To: DDInvestor.com who wrote (747)	1/20/2000 3:34:00 PM
From: ChainSaw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2413

I have been reading the comments about the set top boxes and agree this is probably the cheapest way to reach the masses. With a cable hookup for 3.00 month and free boxes for accounts set up over 3,000.00 the plan could take shape quickly.

To: DDInvestor.com who wrote (747)	1/21/2000 4:04:00 PM
From: StockDung	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2413

SEC Ruling Prohibits IR, PR Pay in Stocks and Shares By Kelly Holman Washington, DC frbinc.com PR Week March 15, 1999 SEC Ruling Prohibits IR, PR Pay in Stocks and Shares By Kelly Holman Washington, DC Investor relations pros have applauded a new ruling from the Securities and Exchange Commission, preventing companies from paying their IR and PR agencies in stocks and shares. "It's the best thing that could have happened to our industry," said Ted Pincus, chairman of the Financial Relations Board, praising the ruling. The SEC has amended the use of Form S-8 - used by companies to distribute securities as compensation to employees - to deter potential securities abuses among company consultants receiving stocks in lieu of cash for representation. Pincus said the ruling creates a more level playing field in the IR business by requiring companies to pay consultants in cash rather than in equity. The FRB, the biggest IR agency in the US, has a policy that its employees or their immediate families cannot hold securities in any of the firm's clients. Joe Mansi, managing partner of New York-based KCSA Worldwide's IR practice, agrees with the SEC ruling. "This is the way it should be. We should not be in bed with a client's stock." Mary Dunbar, senior VP of Cleveland PR firm Dix & Eaton's financial communications practice, also lauded the new S-8 amendments. "It's the wrong incentive for an IR firm to accept stock," she said. National Investor Relations Institute's Standards of Practice Guidelines advise against consultants receiving compensation in the form of securities in a client company because of potential conflicts of interest. However, wording in the SEC ruling concerned NIRI president and CEO Louis Thompson Jr. A section of the ruling says, "consultants who provide IR or shareholder communications services will be excluded from using S-8 because of the promotional nature of their services." Thompson fired off a letter to SEC chairman Arthur Levitt in early March objecting to the language: "There is no room for stock 'promotion' as part of investor relations activities." NIRI's Standards and Practice guidelines define IR as a strategic corporate marketing activity, combining the disciplines of communication and finance, that provides present and potential investors with an accurate portrayal of a company's performance and prospects. Thompson was upset that SEC officials associated IR with stock promotion. "IR pros can talk about your company, the facts and its prospects, but touting is not part of our business," he said. An SEC official admitted that the SEC amendments are murky when it comes to financial relations professionals: "I don't think we are answering all possible questions, but we are trying to provide a first step toward guidance." Used with permission of PR Week. Our Agency * What can w