With the Russell 2000 charting its best performance in two years, it's clear the financial landscape for small cap companies is looking up. This surge whispers of opportunities for growth, making it prime time to fine-tune your investor relations budget with precision and foresight. Here’s how to leverage this potential upswing into your IR plans for 2024:

The Wolf of Wall Street is having a moment — again. Featured on Netflix's Top 10 list back in September, the movie introduces a new generation to the murky world of stock promotion through the real-life story of Jordan Belfort and his brokerage house, Stratton Oakmont. For years, penny stocks have gotten a bad rap because of criminals like Belfort. Often volatile, illiquid and justly under-valued, micro and small cap stocks are frequent targets of the lucrative and shady stock promotion industry.

October has certainly lived up to its reputation as one of the most volatile months for the markets, with high earnings season adding fuel to the fire. For small cap businesses, this period can evoke a whirlwind of emotions as they watch their stock prices swing dramatically. However, this isn't a time to lose hope, but rather an excellent opportunity to demonstrate patience and resilience with investors.

In a blog post this week, Cromwell Coulson, CEO of OTC Markets Group, shared his thoughts on the two-decade transformation of the largest US marketplace for OTC securities. From an obscure, paper-based market known for its “Pink Sheets” to a fully regulated market now trading more than 10,000 securities, the OTC has come a long way from its beginnings more than a hundred years ago.

Addressing the conflict between Israel and Hamas has proven to be a tricky challenge for companies everywhere. Navigating geopolitical issues are always inherently challenging, but best practice suggests any stance should be strategically aligned with your company’s values and its overarching mission.

The IPO market looked set to recover after a rather lackluster year. However, the market took a downturn last week after shares in the German shoemaker, Birkenstock tumbled in its initial debut. Now called “one of the worst IPOs in recent history” by Reuters, Birkenstock is trying to get back on its feet after a rocky start, leading some companies to rethink liquidity goals, especially small caps.