HomeCategoriesFinance & Economics

Finance & Economics

Plain-language definitions for every financial and economic concept — from personal budgeting to global markets.

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Total terms
11
Subcategories
2 min
Avg. read time
45 terms
6
60/40 Portfolio
A 60/40 Portfolio is an investment strategy that allocates 60% of assets to stocks and 40% to bonds. This mix aims to balance growth and stability, making it suitable for many investors.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
A
Active Investing
Active investing is an investment strategy where an investor or a team actively manages a portfolio to outperform the market. This involves frequent buying and selling of assets based on research, analysis, and market trends.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
A
Alpha (finance)
In finance, alpha refers to the measure of an investment's performance compared to a market index or benchmark. It indicates how much more or less an investment has returned relative to the market, helping investors assess the effectiveness of their investment strategies.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
A
Angel Investor
An angel investor is an individual who provides financial support to startups or early-stage businesses in exchange for ownership equity or convertible debt. They often invest their personal funds and may also offer mentorship and advice to the entrepreneurs they support.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
A
Asset Allocation
This is the process of dividing investments among different asset categories, such as stocks, bonds, and cash. The goal is to balance risk and reward based on individual financial goals and risk tolerance.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Bear Market
A bear market is a period in financial markets where prices are falling or are expected to fall. It typically occurs when there is a decline of 20% or more in stock prices over a sustained period, often due to economic downturns or negative investor sentiment.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Beta (finance)
In finance, Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility in relation to the overall market. A Beta greater than 1 indicates that the stock is more volatile than the market, while a Beta less than 1 means it is less volatile.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Bollinger Bands
Bollinger Bands are a technical analysis tool used in finance to measure market volatility and identify potential price movements. They consist of a middle band, which is a moving average, and two outer bands that are set a certain number of standard deviations away from this average.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Bond
A bond is a type of investment where you lend money to an organization, such as a government or corporation, in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the bond's face value at maturity. It is essentially a loan that you give to the issuer of the bond.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Book Value
The term refers to the net asset value of a company, calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets. It represents the value of a company's equity as recorded on its balance sheet.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Bull Market
A bull market is a period in which the prices of securities are rising or are expected to rise. It typically reflects a strong economy and investor confidence, leading to increased buying activity.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
B
Buy and Hold
Buy and Hold is an investment strategy where an investor purchases stocks or other assets and holds onto them for a long period, regardless of market fluctuations. The goal is to benefit from the asset's long-term appreciation in value.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
C
Call Option
A call option is a financial contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specific asset at a predetermined price within a set time period. Investors use call options to speculate on the future price of stocks or other assets, hoping to profit from price increases.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
C
Candlestick Chart
A candlestick chart is a type of financial chart used to represent the price movements of an asset over time. It displays the open, high, low, and close prices for a specific period, helping investors analyze market trends.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
C
Commodity
A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type. These goods are often raw materials or primary agricultural products that can be bought and sold in bulk. Examples include oil, gold, and wheat.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
C
Correlation
Correlation is a statistical measure that describes the relationship between two variables. It indicates how one variable may change in relation to another, helping investors understand patterns and trends in financial data.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
D
Derivatives
A derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the price of an underlying asset, like stocks or commodities. They are used to hedge risk or speculate on price movements. Essentially, derivatives allow investors to bet on the future price of an asset without actually owning it.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
D
Diversification
Diversification is an investment strategy that involves spreading money across different assets to reduce risk. By not putting all your eggs in one basket, you can protect your investments from significant losses.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
D
Dividend
A dividend is a payment made by a company to its shareholders, usually as a share of profits. It is often distributed in cash or additional shares and represents a way for companies to reward their investors.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
D
Dividend Yield
It is a financial ratio that shows how much a company pays in dividends each year relative to its stock price. A higher dividend yield indicates a more attractive return for investors seeking income from their investments.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
D
Dollar-Cost Averaging
This investment strategy involves regularly investing a fixed amount of money into a specific asset, regardless of its price. This approach can reduce the impact of market volatility and lower the average cost per share over time.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
E
EPS (Earnings Per Share)
Earnings Per Share (EPS) is a financial metric that indicates how much profit a company makes for each share of its stock. It is calculated by dividing the company's net income by the number of outstanding shares. EPS is important for investors as it helps assess a company's profitability and financial health.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
E
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund)
An ETF, or Exchange-Traded Fund, is a type of investment fund that trades on stock exchanges, similar to individual stocks. It holds a collection of assets like stocks, bonds, or commodities and allows investors to buy shares in the fund, providing diversification and easy access to various markets.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
E
Expiration Date
An expiration date is the last date on which an option or contract can be exercised or traded. After this date, the option becomes worthless if not exercised.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
F
Fixed Income
Fixed income refers to investments that provide regular income in the form of interest or dividends. These investments typically involve loans made to governments or corporations, and they return a fixed amount over time.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
F
Fundamental Analysis
It is a method used to evaluate the intrinsic value of a security by examining related economic and financial factors. This approach helps investors make informed decisions based on the underlying health of a company or asset.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
F
Futures
Futures are contracts that agree to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specific date in the future. They are commonly used in finance to hedge risks or speculate on price movements of commodities, currencies, or financial instruments.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
G
Growth Stock
A growth stock is a share in a company that is expected to grow at an above-average rate compared to its industry or the overall market. Investors buy these stocks hoping to benefit from the company's expanding business and increasing profits over time.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
H
Hedge Fund
A hedge fund is a pooled investment vehicle that uses various strategies to earn active returns for its investors. These funds often invest in a wide range of assets, including stocks, bonds, and derivatives, and are typically available to accredited investors.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
I
IPO (Initial Public Offering)
An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is when a company offers its shares to the public for the first time. This process allows the company to raise capital from investors in exchange for ownership stakes.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
I
Index Fund
An index fund is a type of investment fund that aims to replicate the performance of a specific market index, such as the S&P 500. It does this by holding a portfolio of stocks or bonds that mirrors the index's composition. This approach allows investors to gain broad market exposure with lower fees compared to actively managed funds.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
I
Intrinsic Value
Intrinsic value is the true worth of an asset based on its fundamental characteristics rather than its market price. It reflects the actual value that an investor believes an asset should have.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
L
Large Cap / Mid Cap / Small Cap
Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap refer to categories of companies based on their market capitalization, which is the total value of a company's outstanding shares. Large Cap companies typically have a market value of over $10 billion, Mid Cap companies range from $2 billion to $10 billion, and Small Cap companies are valued under $2 billion. These classifications help investors assess risk and growth potential in their investment portfolios.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
L
Leverage
In finance, leverage refers to using borrowed money to increase the potential return on an investment. It allows investors to control a larger amount of assets than they could with their own funds alone.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
M
Margin Trading
This is a trading method that allows investors to borrow money to buy more assets than they could with their own funds. It can amplify both gains and losses, making it a high-risk strategy.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
M
Market Capitalization
Market capitalization is the total value of a company's outstanding shares of stock. It is calculated by multiplying the current share price by the total number of shares. This figure helps investors understand the size and value of a company in the market.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
M
Market Correction
A market correction is a decline of 10% or more in the price of a financial market or asset from its recent peak. It is a normal part of market cycles and often reflects adjustments to overvalued stock prices.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
M
Moving Average
A Moving Average is a statistical calculation used to analyze data points by creating averages of different subsets of the complete dataset. It smooths out fluctuations in data to identify trends over a specific period, making it easier to see the direction of prices in financial markets.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
M
Mutual Fund
A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that pools money from many investors to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. This allows individual investors to access a wider range of investments than they could on their own, while also spreading out risk.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
P
P/B Ratio
The P/B Ratio, or Price-to-Book Ratio, measures a company's market value compared to its book value. It helps investors determine if a stock is undervalued or overvalued based on the company's assets.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
P
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings)
The P/E Ratio, or Price-to-Earnings Ratio, is a financial metric that compares a company's current share price to its earnings per share (EPS). It helps investors assess whether a stock is overvalued or undervalued based on its earnings potential.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
P
Passive Investing
A strategy in investing where individuals buy and hold a diversified portfolio of assets for the long term, rather than trying to time the market. This approach aims to match market returns rather than beat them.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
P
Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of financial assets like stocks, bonds, and cash that an investor holds. It is designed to meet specific investment goals and manage risk by diversifying across different types of investments.
BeginnerInvesting1 min
P
Premium (options)
In options trading, the premium is the price that an investor pays to buy an option. This cost is determined by various factors, including the underlying asset's price, time until expiration, and market volatility.
BeginnerInvesting2 min
P
Private Equity
This term refers to investments made in private companies that are not publicly traded. Investors typically buy a significant stake in these companies to help them grow and eventually sell them for profit.
BeginnerInvesting2 min