Jargon Flashcards
(130 cards)
Acquisition
The takeover of one company by another. This can be a friendly (agreed by the boards of both companies), hostile (where the board of the target company resists the takeover), reverse (a private company takes over a public company) or back flip takeover (where the acquiring company turns itself into a subsidiary of the target company).
Algorithmic trading
In its simplest terms this is trading without the involvement of humans. To take an example, when an investor-driven trader (such as a pension fund) wants to buy stocks in large quantities, to avoid affecting the market price they will often use specially developed computer algorithms to spread the investments in such a way that market prices remain unaffected as much as possible. It would be simply impossible for a human trader to respond as quickly to market information as a computer can.
Alternative investment
Traditional investments include stocks, bonds, cash or property. An alternative investment is basically anything else. The term includes art, wine and antiques, but most significantly financial assets such as private equity (stocks in a company not publicly traded on a stock exchange) and financial derivatives (agreements that derive their return from the performance of an underlying asset like a stock or bond).
Analyst
A specialist in a specific area, sector or function of the bank. Also a job title often used to describe graduates new to banking.
Arbitrage
The practice of making a profit from trading on two markets simultaneously. If the price of wheat in London is cheaper than in New York, you buy in London and simultaneously sell in New York. Sports arbitrage is the practice of placing bets on an event with a range of bookmakers, exploiting their different prices to guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome.
Assets
Predominantly used to describe anything owned by an individual or business which has monetary value. Within banking “asset” is specifically used to describe a class of investment product, e.g. shares, property and bonds are all asset classes.
Asset Management
We have a whole section on this, but in brief, this is the professional management of investments. Fund managers/asset managers invest in the financial markets on behalf of their clients to achieve attractive returns. The asset manager will discuss with the investor (or client) what kinds of investments they would like to make and set realistic goals for returns. Once the funds have been transferred from the investor to the asset manager, then that asset manager will place those funds where he/she thinks the return will be maximized over a given period.
Audit
The professional examination and verification of a company’s accounting data.
Automation
Used to describe the processing of transactions using technology rather than manual procedures. This is a big issue in financial services as cost and risk are greatly reduced by the use of computers.
Back office
The support functions of banks that are not directly involved in generating revenue, e.g. Technology, Operations and Human Resources. The back office is also responsible for the processing of transactions made by traders and fund managers.
Basel Committee
A group of representatives from central banks around the world that mandate regulation to ensure stability of global financial infrastructure: it is responsible for the Basel II regulatory framework. This sets down standards by which the Basel Committee can enforce how much capital banks must set aside to guard against financial and operational risks. In light of the recent financial crisis, a new framework Basel III is being developed for possible implementation by the end of 2012.
Basis point
Representing a hundredth of a percent, a basis point is used to measure rate changes in financial instruments like interest rates and bond yields.
Bear
An individual who expects the value of a commodity, bond, share, currency, sector or market to fall.
Bear market
Any market in which prices exhibit a declining trend for a prolonged period. Because a bear attacks by clawing down, this term is associated with a falling market.
Blue chip
A well-established company with a good record of earnings over a long period of time; these companies are sought by investors seeking relative safety and stability.
Book
The summary of positions held by a dealer, desk or room. Position refers to an investor’s stake in a bond, share or market. A long position is the number of shares owned; a short position is the number of shares owed.
Bond
A long-term debt instrument with the promise to pay a specified amount of interest and to return the original investment on a specified maturity date; usually issued by governments and organizations in order to raise capital.
Broker
An individual or firm that charges a fee or commission for executing buy and sell orders submitted by another individual or firm. Or, the role of a broker firm when it acts as an agent for a customer and charges the customer a commission for its service.
Bulge bracket
In common parlance, a bulge bracket firm is an investment bank considered to be one of the largest and most profitable in the world. The name comes from the practice of listing these banks at the top of the “tombstone”. A tombstone is an advertisement formally announcing a particular transaction – perhaps an offering or placement of stock of a company. The bank’s name at the top of the tombstone will typically be in a larger font and will therefore ‘bulge’ out.
Bull
An individual who expects the value of a commodity, bond, share, currency, sector or market to rise.
Bull market
A period during which share prices in a particular market (such as the stock market) are generally rising. Because a bull attacks by thrusting upward, this term is associated with a rising market.
Business risk
The risk that the cash flow of a business will be impaired because of adverse economic conditions, making it difficult for the company to meet its operating expenses.
Buy side
Institutional investors that hold their customer’s money and make buy and sell decisions on their behalf i.e. mutual funds, pension funds and trust companies.
Call option
The right but not the obligation to buy stock, shares or futures at a specified price within a specified time period; the investor pays a premium in order to get the option.