Balance of Payments The balance of payments(BOP) is an accounting of a country’s international transactions over a certain time period. It shows the sum of the transactions—purely financial ones, as well as those involving goods or services—between individuals, businesses and government agencies in that country and those in the rest of the world. What is…
Diluted EPS The Diluted EPS formula is equal to Net Income less preferred dividends, divided by the total number of diluted shares outstanding (basic shares outstanding plus the exercise of in-the-money options, warrants, and other dilutive securities). Also, the concept of diluted shares outstanding can be equated to a pie, of sorts. If more slices are…
Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) Earnings per share (EPS) is a key metric that determines the common shareholder’s portion of the company’s profit. EPS measures each common share’s profit allocation about the company’s total profit. IFRS uses the term “ordinary shares” to refer to common shares. The EPS figure is important because it is used…
Hedge Fund Hedge funds limit their participants to accredited investors. An accredited investor is defined as someone with a liquid net worth greater than $1 million or an annual net income greater than $200,000 (or $300,000 with a spouse). The SEC allows accredited investors to invest in less-regulated securities offerings because it assumes investors with…
Mutual Fund A mutual fund is a fund that pools money from a group of investors to buy financial securities such as bonds and stocks to minimise costs, diversify investment risks, and maximise returns. Investors in funds don’t directly own the securities in the fund but hold shares in the fund. Understanding Mutual Funds Mutual…
Asset Management Asset management refers to the process of developing, operating, maintaining, and cost-effectively selling assets. Most commonly used in finance, the term is used about individuals or firms that manage assets on behalf of individuals or other entities. Importance There are several reasons why businesses should be concerned about it, including: 1. Enables a…
Interest rate An interest rate is either the cost of borrowing money or the reward for saving it. It is calculated as a percentage of the amount borrowed or saved.1 You borrow money from banks when you take out a home mortgage. Other loans can be used for buying a car, an appliance, or paying…
Futures market To understand fully what a futures market is, it’s important to understand the basics of futures contracts, the assets traded in these markets. Futures contracts are made in an attempt by producers and suppliers of commodities to avoid market volatility. These producers and suppliers negotiate contracts with an investor who agrees to take on both…
Forward market How forward market works A forward market leads to the creation of forwarding contracts. While forward contracts—like futures contracts—may be used for both hedging and speculation, there are some notable differences between the two. Forward contracts can be customized to fit a customer’s requirements, while futures contracts have standardized features in terms of their contract size and maturity. Forwards execute…
Spot market A spot market is where financial instruments are exchanged for immediate delivery, such as commodities, currencies, and securities. Delivery, here, means cash exchange for a financial tool. In comparison, a futures contract is based on the delivery of the underlying asset at a future date. Over-the-counter (OTC) markets and exchanges may provide spot trading and/or futures trading. How Spot Markets Work Spot markets are also referred…