Benchmark: the standard to which the performance of a stock, bond or other investment can be referenced.
Source: Investopedia, Business Dictionary
Black Monday
Black Monday: The day the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost almost 22 percent, marking the start of a global stock market decline. Occurring on October 19, 1987, Black Monday was one of the most dramatic days in financial history. By the end of that month, most of the major exchanges had declined by 20 percent.
The cause of the Black Monday has not been attributed to any single news event. While there are many theories offering various explanations, most agree that mass panic caused the crash to escalate. Since 1987, a number of protective mechanisms have been established to prevent panic selling.
Source: Investopedia
Blue-Chip Stocks
Blue-Chip Stocks: Refers to the stock of a well-established and financially sound company that has been in operation for many years. Having a market capitalization in the billions, a blue-chip stock is typically a market leader or top company in its sector. Most blue-chip stocks have paid stable or rising dividends over the years. It is believed that blue-chip stock is a reference to poker, where blue chips are the most expensive.
Source: Investopedia
Brexit
BRICS
BRICS: An acronym first used in 2003 to describe the economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China. According to Forbes Magazine, the general consensus is that the term was first used in a Goldman Sachs report which speculated that by 2050 these four economies would be wealthier than most of the current major economic powers.
In March 2012, South Africa was added to the acronym, thus becoming “BRICS.” At that time, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met in India to discuss the formation of a development bank to pool resources. At that point, the BRIC countries were responsible for about 18 percent of the world’s GDP and 40 percent of the world’s population.
Source: About.com
Briefcase Indicator
Briefcase Indicator: During Alan Greenspan’s tenure as Federal Reserve Chairman, CNBC started to analyze the thickness of Greenspan’s briefcase he carried into the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. If the briefcase was thin, the media guessed that there would not be a change in policy. If the briefcase was thick, the conjecture was that a change in monetary policy was going to be announced. While this theory did not always prove to be accurate, it does demonstrate the intense interest in any Fed action.
Source: Investopedia, CNBC
Bullish
Bund
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA): A division of the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for economic data analysis and reporting used in determining economic trends and cycles (e.g.; the gross domestic product of the U.S.). BEA reports are used to make policy decisions by government and investment decisions in the private sector.
Source: Investopedia, Wikipedia
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): A government agency within the U.S. Department of Labor that researches and releases data regarding consumer spending, employment, inflation, productivity, wages and other economic indicators. These reports often considerably impact market sentiment.
Source: Investopedia
Cap Ex
Cash Flow
CFA
CFA: Acronym for Chartered Financial Analyst. An individual who has passed tests in economics, accounting, security analysis and money management, administered by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of the Association for Investment Management and Research. CFAs are also expected to have at least three years of investments-related experience and meet certain standards of professional conduct. CFAs have an extensive economic and investing background and are competent at a high level of analysis. Individuals or corporations utilize their services as security analysts, portfolio managers or investment advisors.
Source: InvestorWords.com, CFA Institute
Chinese A-Share
Chinese A-Share: Mainland China’s two stock exchanges, in Shenzhen and Shanghai, both have A- and B-share markets. The major difference is that the A-shares are denominated in the renminbi currency and the B-shares are denominated in foreign currency (Hong Kong dollars in Shenzhen and U.S. dollars in Shanghai).
Source: Investopedia, Wikipedia
The Cloud
The Cloud: A model for delivering information technology services in which resources are retrieved from the internet through web-based tools and applications, rather than a direct connection to a server. These services are offered from data centers all over the world, which are collectively referred to as the “cloud.”
Sources: Investopedia, Tech Terms.com, TechnoBuffalo.com
Commerce Department
Commerce Department: The department was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903 and was renamed the Department of Commerce in 1913 when its bureaus and agencies specializing in labor were transferred to the new Department of Labor. Its mission today is to “promote job creation and improved living standards for all Americans by creating an infrastructure that promotes economic growth, technological competitiveness and sustainable development.” The department is tasked with gathering economic and demographic data for business and government decision-making, issuing patents and trademarks and helping set industrial standards.
Sources: Investopedia, Wikipedia
Consumer Comfort
Consumer Discretionary Sector
Consumer Discretionary Sector: One of 10 economic sectors that comprises the S&P 500 Index and serves as a gauge for the general health and performance of the underlying industries. The consumer discretionary sector includes the following industries: advertising, autos and auto parts, broadcasting and cable, general merchandise, hotels, movies and entertainment, publishing and printers, restaurants and retail.
Sources: Ferguson Wellman Glossary of Investment Terms, Investopedia
Consumer Staples
Consumer Staples: Products that are essential to consumers. Examples include household goods, food, beverages and tobacco. Because consumers view these products as essential, they purchase them regardless of the state of the economy. As a result, they are considered a consistent investment platform for investors.
Sources: Investopedia and Investing Answer
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Consumer Price Index (CPI): measures prices of a fixed basket of goods bought by a typical consumer. It is widely used as a cost-of-living benchmark to adjust Social Security payments and other payment schedules, and to measure and gauge inflation. Economists also look at the CPI excluding volatile food and energy components that they call the “core” CPI.
Source: Ferguson Wellman Glossary of Investment Terms