DULLES, Va., Dec. 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- AOL has announced the launch of a new exclusive feature to its Money & Finance website. Called "Hilary on Stocks", it is a daily personal stock pick blog by noted financial expert Hilary Kramer. The new AOL Money & Finance website has also added daily personalized stock quotes, timely financial advice, Consumer Reports buying guides, extensive business news, and stock market coverage for a more comprehensive personal finance and investment destination free to consumers on the Web.
AOL(r) Money & Finance is one of the largest financial destinations for consumers on the Web, with over 100 million stock quotes queried each market day, almost 10 million unique visitors per month, and more than 10 million financial portfolios created by over 6 million users. It is designed for everyone, from the average consumer looking for specific tips on money management to the more advanced investor who seeks to track portfolios and markets to make better investment decisions. The re-launch reflects a broadening of services and tools to compete more aggressively with other web-based financial sites.
"With more advanced features and exclusive content, such as Hilary on Stocks, consumers will be able to utilize and personalize AOL Money & Finance to fit their needs," said Martin Moe, Vice President and General Manager, Money & Finance, America Online, Inc. "New features reflect consumers' reliance on the Web for financial tools. This upgraded website is part of AOL's ongoing commitment to providing a comprehensive and engaging online financial destination."
"I am looking forward to being a resource for investors large and small on AOL Money & Finance," said Hilary Kramer. "On my daily stock blog, I look forward to sharing my own investment insights but more than that, I will enjoy listening and reacting to feedback from both casual and serious investors."
In addition to being Financial Editor at AOL, Hilary Kramer is a business and finance columnist for the New York Post and a contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Fox News Channel and CNBC. She has an extensive background in investment banking, having been a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers.
Other new features at AOL Money & Finance include:
-- Smart Shopping with Consumer Reports: AOL Money &
Finance has teamed with the most trusted source for
testing-based product Ratings and recommendations to provide
an extensive array of product buying guides. Before making a
purchase, consumers can learn how to choose and how much to
pay for everything from baby products to electronics,
appliances, home & garden items and more.
-- Money & Finance Top 5: In partnership with
SmartMoney.com, this weekly series will take on a timely
financial topic and provide readers with the five things
everyone needs to know about it. Whether it's saving money on
home heating costs this winter, investing in real-estate, or
re-balancing your 401(k), this series is informative, fun,
and a necessary read for any consumer.
-- Comprehensive Financial News Coverage: With the
launch of AOL Money & Finance, this website will become the
hub for financial news coverage within the AOL(r) network.
AOL Money & Finance now brings together financial news
coverage, from a wealth of respected sources, including The
Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Business
Week, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN Money, Fortune, Forbes,
Kiplingers, Motley Fool, and more.
-- Easy to manage quotes and portfolios: Users can see
real-time information on recent stocks they have viewed, and
easily track and manage their portfolios in a format they
customize. Current data for major market indices also follows
users across the website. Whether checking stock quotes,
reviewing mortgage rates, recent market trends, or global
market news, users will always know exactly what's going on
in the markets.
-- Tips, Advice, and Ideas from AOL Money Coaches:
Through AOL Money & Finance, the AOL(r) Coaches program will
provide users with highly sought-after tips, advice and
answers to some of their most pressing financial, business
questions and dilemmas from leading business, financial and
money authors such as Tom Peters, Lois Frankel, Jean Chatzky
and Mary Hunt.
In addition, other enhancements will be completed in the coming months to AOL Money & Finance, including upgrades to popular features such as AOL Bill Pay, stock quotes and portfolios, market data, and resource centers on key financial topics such as real estate, insurance, taxes, interest rates and others.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Brands include the AOL(r) service, the AOL.com(r) website, and the AIM(r), MapQuest(r), Moviefone(r), Netscape(r), CompuServe(r) and ICQ(r) services. America Online offers a range of digital services including the TotalTalk(r) voice service. The company also has operations in Canada and Europe. America Online, Inc. is based in Dulles, Virginia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.