Is there an easy way to learn about the stock market and how to invest?

Read ALOT about company histories and sector trends and conditions. Education is key to making hopefully-successful decisions. If you want to use Yahoo's markets section, insert a company abbreviation (eg "F" for Ford Motor") in the slot alloted and check the "historical prices" area...That will give you a pretty good idea of cyclical trends and company consistancy.

Although some will say that whatever your gut is telling you, so the opposite! :)) Because in many ways, it's a huge crapshoot.

For the geniune investment person, there are two systems of
interactive trade. One is the solid and easliy liquidation service
of mineral wealth. Gold holdings have a highly fluctuating scale
because it is called in trade as the stablizer of large client, and
platinum is used mainly in banking model upgrade. To buy
stock you then should gear for the trade value that these are
highly valued to trade in favor of more and more investors. So
this second look is called the bond, common, equity, and insured
market. The sponsorship you offer is work, it is real leadership,
and it requires military, or mechanical braun to enhance its use.
Using material stocks as an example, you clear 2000 square miles of land with electric engine. Leading your investment is the
part that requires managing skill. Using existing formulas is also
probable when you research the idea. Altogether it takes a good
portfolio to produce a solid result. Here is a good writer on the
ideas in recent market socket for good membership.
http://www.thestreet.com

acutally i would reccommend the yahoo finance page. they have an education section with of a lot of great information. i am a finance major and i am interning at an investment firm in my free time it go there and read about different investing ideas and what all the numbers associated with stock. it has really been very helpful.

Take these web tutorials from morning star web site

http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/Classro...

The Motley Fool
http://fool.com

Here is the best advice you'll get (not being arrogant, just honest): If you are a new investor, open a brokerage account at the lowest cost discount broker you can find, and invest in shares of an ETF (exchange traded fund). The best thing to do would be to find the lowest cost ETF that mirrors the S&P500 index. One such example would be the ticker symbol SPX. This is the market portfolio which is the benchmark most "professionals try to beat, without success for the most part. Buy the ETF and hold it for a long time. This is your best bet because after fees, expenses, and tax consequences, most active investment strategies fail to provide returns above the market.

Yoga
The easy ways are suspect. The best ways are proven and application is a must.
Try Investools .com or Bernie Schaeffer.com. Both have excellent courses to get you started.
Good luck
jim@babbomall.com