What are the best stocks under 5 dollars for a first time investor?

I want to invest and need to start with stocks that will go up-but wont cost so much to start with. What should I invest in--gold mines-medical-???

What market would be best too look at ? Mine stock ,fuels or medical ?

Most stocks, but not all, under 5 bucks are not what one would call investments. They fall under the heading speculations, especially the gold mines. There is one medical stock that even though it is a speculation it has some merit. It is not under 5 though but not too far away. MEDX. They have several drugs in phase 3. And S&P rates them a buy. They are involved in the options scandle. I once owned the stock but sold it. I have been thinking of buying it back. There is a company TINY that invests in companies that do nanotechnology. It is really speculative and I expect it to probably go under but it is selling about as low as it has sold in a year. It might go up again in the near future. It is about $10.

Here is one to look at INPC. It is a communications company trading at 6.41, close to 5. Running a deficit but projected to make money this year and more next. Analysts tend to be overly optimistic though. It popped out at the top of the list of a S&P screen of stocks under $10. Another LIOX. Also running a deficit but expected to post a profit. $5.37. It is sort of an internet company, but after reading its profile I am still not sure exactly what it does. Now. You might very well buy stock in either of these companies and make some money, but there is a whole lot of risk. Either could double in value or could go broke.

If you sign of for an account with Fidelity you can run these screens yourself and pick your poison.

I have three favorites at the moment. EZM, UVIH and AUTO. Invest at your own risk.

Buy renewable energy stocks. DIL, DVSA, are both involved in the production of basic enzymes needed to create cellulosic ethanol, the renewable fuel source of the future. There are hundreds of Penny stocks, (stocks that sell for under $2.00 a share, many just starting out sell for under a dollar a share) in renewable energy source production.

You're talking about highly speculative stocks at that price and in the markets you've mentioned. With the full knowledge that you could lose everything, take a look at the following biomed stock: GTC Biotherapuetics (GTCB). I have been tracking this stock for years now and in a few months we'll find out if it pays off (that's when it's clinical trials could be validated by the European FDA). If it gets approved, which things look positive, it could do some very nice jumping. For example, a couple weeks ago, it jumped over 100% overnight when a European panel suggested approval of it's experimental drug. It settled back to about a 50% gain, but if it gets final approval, it is likely that the US FDA will follow suit and approve it. See the following links for your own research:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=GTCB
http://yahoo.businessweek.com/technology...
http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/060602/1297400...

Good luck and invest at your own risk.