December 22, 2006
Free access to stock price data is a necessity for "transparent" stock transactions and planning for the individual small investor. The small investor has enough disadvantages relative to large/institutional organizations. This would yet be another cost/hurdle and could well reduce investments by many.
One does not see large retail companies charging for access to their latest sales, products, promotions etc. so the public can make a buy decision.
The drive for increased profitability should be in developing more efficient transaction systems thus attracting more volume and investors.
The SEC should not agree to this incremental profit niche which simply increases cost to the user while putting yet another obstacle in the user's path.