var transactions = {
	response: '',

	//makes an request to determine the effect of a proposed transaction
	getPriceQuote: function (stock, amount, action) {
		if (action != 'buy' && action != 'sell' && action != 'buybundle') return

		ajaxUrl = '/ajax/transactions.php';
		var ajaxOptions = {
			method: 'post',
			postBody: 'action=getPriceQuote&stock=' + stock + '&amount=' + amount + '&transaction=' + action,
			asynchronous: false
		}

		var ajaxObject = new Ajax.Request(ajaxUrl, ajaxOptions);
		eval ('var ajaxData = ' + ajaxObject.transport.responseText);

		return ajaxData;
	},

	//make an actual stock transaction
	tradeStocks: function (stock, amount, action) {
		ajaxUrl = '/ajax/transactions.php';
		amount = action == 'buybundle' ? 1 : amount;

		//set the ajax options
		var ajaxOptions = {
			method: 'post',
			postBody: 'action=' + action + '&stock=' + stock + '&amount=' + amount,
			asynchronous: false
		}

		//get the response
		var ajaxObject = new Ajax.Request(ajaxUrl, ajaxOptions);
		//console.log (ajaxObject.transport.responseText);

		eval ('var ajaxData = ' + ajaxObject.transport.responseText);

		//return the data
		return ajaxData.feedback;
	}
}