Jargon Flashcards
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.
Capital
Money put into a business by its shareholders; can also be used as a general term to describe liquidity/cash.
Capital markets
A general term encompassing all markets for financial instruments.
Capital raising
Mechanisms by which companies raise money.
Central Securities Depository (CSD)
An agency that clears and settles bonds and shares transactions. There is only one of these in each country for each financial product.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
A globally recognized qualification taken by a range of professionals in the financial services industry.
Chinese wall
The imaginary wall between different areas in the bank that may have a conflict of interest; it denotes a commitment not to disclose confidential information to one another. In many cases, bankers will be physically prevented from interacting with colleagues in conflicting parts of the bank by not having access to their area in the building. Blocks might also be put in place on emails and phone calls between these areas. This is a general business term, not unique to banking.
Clearing
Confirming the details of a transaction between traders as well as managing the transfer of payment and delivery of the relevant certificates and documentation.
Clearing house
A separate agency or corporation working with the commodity exchange (where commodities such as wheat, coffee & oil are traded as well as contracts based on these products, such as futures and options) to match up buy and sell orders. This means transferring funds, ensuring delivery of ownership rights and guaranteeing all obligations on the part of buyers and sellers.
Commission
Fees paid to banks by clients for carrying out transactions and providing other services.
Commodities
Physical items such as oil, gold or grain that are traded on exchanges.
Commodity exchange
An exchange where commodities such as wheat, coffee and oil are traded. A commodity exchange will also trade in contracts based on commodities, such as forwards, futures and options.
Convertible bonds
Bonds which may be converted, at the option of the holder, into shares of the issuing corporation during a specified time period and according to specified conditions.
Coupon
This denotes the amount of interest due on a debt product, such as a bond or a loan.
Counterparty
The opposite side of a financial transaction, typically another financial institution.
Credit
The supply of resources by one party to another for which repayment is delayed by agreement. Credit refers to an arrangement whereby a debt is agreed upon. In investment banking, a credit event is an occurrence relating to a debt obligation not being met. An obvious example is a company going bankrupt. Others include failure to pay, restructuring and moratorium (the law deciding that debt repayments can be delayed due to extenuating circumstances). Derivatives based on these credit events will payout to the investor if the company concerned exhibits one of these conditions.
Credit correlation
The measure of how the default risk of one company moves in relation to that of another.
Credit derivative
An agreement between two parties, whose payoff depends on whether or not a credit event occurs (i.e. bankruptcy, default, upgrade or downgrade). Credit derivatives are used to offset risk.
Credit risk
The risk that the issuer of a bond or share may default on interest and/or principle payments, or become bankrupt. In general, the better the rating, the lower the bond’s coupon rate (rate of interest).
Custodian
A financial institution, usually a bank or trust company that holds a mutual fund’s bonds, shares and cash in safekeeping.
Custody
The administering of bonds and shares by a financial institution. The custodian keeps a record of a client’s investments and may also collect income, process tax reclaims and provide other services according to client instructions.
Debt Capital Markets (DCM)
The market on which debt instruments are traded (debt instruments are obligations to pay and can take electronic or paper form – examples are bonds, certificates, loans and leases). DCM also refers to the division of an investment bank which helps clients buy and sell these obligations and is also involved in the bond product; providing credit rating advice for corporates and organizing bond finance using a pool of investors.
Debt
Money owed to creditors/lenders or buyers of debt securities (bonds, certificates, loans and leases).
Delivery
The transfer and receipt of ownership. More specifically, on a busy trading floor agreements are made that cannot be fully transacted there and then; delivery is the point at which the agreement is settled in full.
Derivative
An agreement that derives its value from an existing bond, share, currency or commodity (referred to as the base instrument or underlying investment). The price of a derivative will move in direct relationship to the price of the base instrument. Derivatives involve the trading of rights or obligations based on the underlying product, but do not directly transfer property. They are used to hedge risk or to exchange a floating rate of return (linked to a reference rate that is outside of the control of either party, such as LIBOR – the London Interbank Offered Rate) for fixed rate of return (an agreed rate that does not change).
Electronic trading platform
Electronic trading uses information technology to allow trading in securities to happen remotely in a virtual marketplace rather than a traditional trading floor. An electronic trading platform is the system which enables this to happen.
Emerging markets
The markets of developing countries: examples include Mexico, Malaysia, Chile, Thailand and the Philippines. Emerging market bonds and shares tend to be the most volatile in the world; they have tremendous growth potential but also pose significant risks – political upheaval, corruption and currency collapse to name just a few.
Equities
Shares in a corporation representing a claim over a proportion of its assets and profit.
Equity
The net worth of a company, it represents the ownership interest of the shareholders. For this reason, shares are often known as equities.