Apologies to White Heron who I promised a few days ago that I'd start this thread, but have been busy inbetween and didn't get round to it until now.

Anyone got any systems that they use to alert them to a potential trade? What about some educative stories of where you've got some information that has led you to buy into a company that has subsequently become a dollar bonanza?

There are various off-the-shelf systems that will screen for particular characteristics in stocks - one of them being price rises. You can also get similar services of brokers, that is if you pay them well enough. Anyone use these services to gather information about potential trades? Or has information from other sources proved more valuable?