Absolute return funds are investment funds designed to make money in all market conditions. They focus on returns rather than trying to outperform the market, and employ a range of strategies - like short selling - in an aim to profit regardless of market direction.
Learn moreAfter hours trading refers to the buying and selling of assets outside the standard trading hours of major exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange. It might be used in an attempt to capitalise on price movements following key news events, to hedge, or to avoid price gapping. After hours trading can potentially be more volatile, and therefore risky.
Learn moreThe Amex Index refers to a series of stock market indices on the NYSE American, which lists small to medium-sized US and international companies, providing a benchmark for their performance.
Learn moreIn finance, animal spirits refer to the emotional and psychological factors that drive traders’ decisions, leading to fluctuations in financial markets beyond what would be expected from rational behaviour.
Learn moreAn asset refers to any resource with economic value that an individual, company, or institution owns or controls with the expectation that it will provide future financial benefit. Assets can include shares, commodities, real estate, and currencies, many of which can be traded with derivative products such as CFDs.
Learn moreAsset valuation is the process of determining the current worth of a financial asset or company. It might involve methods such as discounted cash flow analysis, comparable company analysis, or using market values for assets like stocks and bonds to establish their fair market value.
Learn moreAttitude to risk refers to the willingness of a trader to take positions that represent a higher chance of losing their capital. More risk-averse traders prefer lower risk assets that may have less upside but also less downside, while risk-seeking traders accept the higher chance of losing money for more potential upside.
Learn moreAn audited account is a financial statement that has been examined and verified by an independent auditor. The audit process ensures that the accounts accurately represent the entity’s financial position and comply with relevant accounting standards and regulations. This provides assurance to stakeholders about the accuracy of financial reporting.
Learn moreAutomated market making (AMM) is a type of trading system that uses algorithms to set buy and sell prices, providing continuous liquidity to markets. AMMs determine prices based on trading volume and demand, functioning without traditional human market makers.
Learn moreBasis points, known as BPS, are a common unit of measurement for changes in financial percentages. A 0.01% change is the same as 1 basis point. A rather large 100% change is the same as 10,000 BPS.
You hear about basis points a lot whenever any changes in interest rates are being discussed. For example, you might hear about the basis point difference between the interest rate of two bonds or loans. By using BPS over percentages, it stops any confusion when talking about changes or differences.
If an interest rate is currently at 20%, and it is said to rise by 10%, is the new total 30% or 22%? Without clarification, it could be either.
But if you're told an interest rate is at 20% and it will increase by 1,000 basis points, you know for certain that the new total is 30%. And if it was increasing by 200 BPS, it would be 22%. Basis points make understanding percentage changes a whole lot simpler.
Here's a basic run-through of key basis point figures to always keep in mind: