Investopedia - Simonetta

Abacus

1. A calculation tool used by sliding counters along rods or grooves, used to perform mathematical functions. In addition to calculating the basic functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, the abacus can calculate roots up to the cubic degree.2. A semi-annual accounting journal published and edited by the University of Sydney. Published in 1965, this journal covers all areas of accounting. I: It is believed that the abacus was first used by the Babylonians, as early as 2,400 B.C. Since that time, the physical structure of abaci have changed. However, the idea has survived almost five millenia, and is still being used today.The Chinese and Japanese use different finger techniques with their abaci. The Chinese use three fingers (thumb, index, and middle) to move the beads; while the Japanese only use their thumb and index fingers.

A

A Nasdaq stock symbol specifying that the stocks are Class "A" shares of the company. I: Nasdaq-listed securities have four or five characters. If a fifth letter appears, it identifies the issue as other than a single issue of common stock or capital stock.

Accelerated Vesting

A form of vesting that takes place at a faster rate than the initial vesting schedule in a company's stock option plan. This allows the option holder to receive the monetary benefit from the option much sooner. If a company decides to undertake accelerated vesting, then it may expense the costs associated with the stock options sooner. I: Prior to the adoption of FAS-123(R), U.S. companies were not required to account for stock option compensation paid to employees and executives. As a result of FAS-123(R), companies were required to account for stock option expenses, which amounted to a large expense for many companies. By adopting an accelerated vesting program, companies can expense their vesting costs over a longer period of time, which makes their future incomes higher than they would be if the options were vested on schedule.

Academy of Accounting Historians

A nonprofit organization that researches how accounting principles and rules have changed over time. The Academy of Accounting Historians was created in 1973 and publishes journal and research papers throughout the year. Membership is not restricted to accountants. I: The Academy of Accounting Historians examines the relationship between accounting rules and economic history, focusing on the interplay between the various forces that affect businesses.

Abatement

A reduction in the level of taxation faced by an individual or company. Examples of an abatement include a tax decrease, a reduction in penalties or a rebate. If an individual or business overpays its taxes or receives a tax bill that is too high, it can request an abatement from the tax authorities. I: A common type of tax abatement is property tax abatement. Individuals who believe that the assessed value of their property is too high, can appeal to their local tax assessor for a tax abatement. Some localities offer property tax abatement to owners who restore, or improve, historic properties located in designated neighborhoods. Some types of properties, such as those containing non-profit businesses, will be granted tax abatements based on the owner's tax-exempt status.

AAAA Spot Contract

A standardized contract drawn up by the American Association of Advertising Agencies that governs the purchase of television or radio spots. The AAAA Spot Contract is generally between the advertising agency that represents the client and the television or radio station. The contract spells out all relevant details of the purchase, such as the number of spots and the duration of the advertising campaign, the date and time of airing the spots, and the cost to the advertiser. I: This type of contract is more likely to be used when the advertiser is buying spots in individual markets as opposed to buying spots on all the stations affiliated with a network in a large geographical region. While purchasing spots in individual markets is time-consuming, it is likely to be more targeted than buying spots on a network. Moreover, the standardized features of a AAAA spot contract make it easier for the parties involved to process them quickly.

Accelerated Cost Recovery System - ACRS

A system of depreciation introduced by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. ACRS depreciation is based on recovery periods instead of useful life. These periods were predetermined by the IRS. I: The modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) replaced ACRS for property placed into service after 1986.

Acceleration Life Insurance

A type of policy that pays a portion (typically 25\% or 50\%) of the death benefits (the face amount of the policy, less any outstanding loans or fees) in case of a specified illness or medical emergency. I: The accelerated death benefit provides funds necessary to pay for medical costs, to extend the life of the insured. Insurance companies pay the specified percentage of the death benefit in a lump sum.Upon death, the remainder of the insured's death benefit is paid to the beneficiary, just as under a traditional life insurance policy.

Absolute Performance Standard

A way of measuring an organization's progress and how effective and efficient it is at running its business. The absolute performance standard is a benchmark for quality control that is only attainable in theory. However, it is a good way to measure how well a business and its workers are doing. I: Many organizations implement different forms of performance standards that measure different aspects. Some companies use "pay for performance" incentive programs based on merit for workers who do well in their job. Performance standards should be attainable, specific, observable, meaningful, measurable and stated in terms of quality, quantity, timeliness or cost.

Above The Line Deduction

Above the line deductions are certain types of deductions that are subtracted from your income before the adjusted gross income is calculated for tax purposes. I: Above the line deductions include such items as losses on a property sale, alimony payments and educational expenses. Since above the line deductions are generally deducted from taxable income, they are advantageous to taxpayers in the sense that they reduce the overall tax burden.

A. Michael Spence

An American economist who has won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. Spence is a professor emeritus of management in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution - a Stanford-based free-market think tank. Spence received the Nobel Memorial Prize in 2001, along with George Akerlof and Joseph Stiglitz, for his analysis of information asymmetry - specifically of how individuals can use their education credentials as a signal to potential employers. Spence is also a recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal. Prior to teaching at Stanford, Spence taught economics and business administration at Harvard. I: Born in 1943 in New Jersey, Spence grew up in Canada. His research subjects include emerging markets, information economics, dynamic competition and leadership's effect on economic growth. He has also served as a director on the boards of numerous public and private companies.

Absorbed Account

An account that has been combined or that has merged with another related account. Accounts are often absorbed into existing accounts as a way of simplifying the accounting process. Once an account has been absorbed the original account will cease to exist, although a paper trail will remain to show how funds have been moved. I: Accounts are simply a way for a company or individual to separate finances into manageable categories, so it is not surprising that a separation or category that made sense at one time can become obsolete. When this happens, the obsolete account is absorbed into an area where it fits better. Rather than being a unique account, the absorbed account is combined with another existing account. When this is done at a business, the accountant or bookkeeper records and reconciles the changes.

Accelerated Depreciation

Any method of depreciation used for accounting or income tax purposes that allows greater deductions in the earlier years of the life of an asset. I: The straight-line depreciation method spreads the cost evenly over the life of an asset. On the other hand, a method of accelerated depreciation like the double declining balance (DDB) allows you to deduct far more in the first years after purchase.

Abandoned Property

Assets such as cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, uncashed checks, land, life insurance policies and the contents of safe deposit boxes that have been turned over to the state after several years of inactivity. Some states hold onto such property and allow the original owners and heirs to claim it indefinitely. In other states, if the property goes unclaimed for too long, it may become the state's property through a process known as escheatment. One purpose of abandoned property laws is to relieve the asset holder of liability. I: In the United States, state laws determine when an asset is legally considered abandoned. In Massachusetts, for example, a bank account that has seen no activity for more than three years will be turned over to the state, but owners can file a claim to collect their abandoned property at any time. To locate abandoned property, also called unclaimed property, individuals can do a free search through state-sponsored websites or they can contact the state treasury or comptroller's office. States may also try to locate owners of unclaimed property through letters and newspaper announcements.

ABCD Counties

Categories of U.S. counties devised by AC Nielsen Company that are based on U.S. Census Bureau population data and proximity to major metropolitan areas. A counties are the largest U.S. counties by population, and D counties are the smallest. Counties are classified on the basis of data from the latest census, which takes place every 10 years. The county classification is used by marketing and advertising agencies, and advertisers in the preparation and analysis of advertising and media plans. I: A counties are classified as any county located in the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, which will be the highest density. B counties are considered any county that is not an A county and has a population exceeding 150,000 or is part of a metropolitan area with a population over 150,000. C counties are seen as any county that is not classified as an A or B county, and has a population between 40,000 and 150,000. D counties are any county that not classified as an A, B or C county.

Above-The-Line Costs

Costs incurred during the production of an advertising commercial that are associated with the creative side of it. These costs include those incurred for actors, music and photography. Because creativity cannot be measured directly, above-the-line costs may have little correlation with the creativity of an advertisement or commercial. That is, incurring high above-the-line costs may not necessarily result in a commercial with a high degree of creativity, while a low-budget commercial with minimal above-the-line costs may still be quite creative. In accounting, above-the-line costs can also refer to costs included in the calculation of net income in the income statement. I: Above-the-line costs are the polar opposite of below-the-line costs in advertising, which are costs associated with the non-creative part of the advertising commercial production. Below-the-line costs include expenses for props and equipment.

Accelerated Amortization

Extra payments made towards paying down a mortgage principal. With accelerated amortization, the loan borrower is allowed to add additional payments to their mortgage bill in order to pay off a mortgage before the loan settlement date. The benefit of doing so is reduced overall interest payments. I: For example, take a mortgage originated for $200,000 at 7% interest for 30 years. The monthly principal and interest payment is $1330.60. Increasing the payment by $100 per month will result in a loan payoff period of 24 years instead of the original 30 years, saving the borrower six years of interest. Paying a mortgage in an accelerated manner decreases the loan premium faster and diminishes the amount of additional interest the borrower is required to pay on the loan.

AARP

Formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, AARP is the nation's leading organization for people age fifty and older. Founded in 1958 by retired educator Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, it is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association with a membership of 40 million. It provides information, education, research, advocacy and community services through a nationwide network of local chapters and experienced volunteers. It focuses its work on consumer issues, economic security, work, health and independent living issues, and engages in legislative, judicial and consumer advocacy in these areas. I: AARP is considered a powerful lobbying group as well as a successful business, selling insurance, investment funds and other financial products. It is also an independent publisher, offering Modern Maturity magazine and the monthly AARP Bulletin.

A-Share

In a family of multi-class mutual funds, this is the class that is usually characterized by a loaded fee structure. Class A mutual fund units will commonly have a front- or rear-end load, to compensate for the sales person's commission. Not all fund companies follow this class structure; however, it is the prominent method of distinction. I: Typically, the class A fund has a lower management expense ratio compared to the other classes within the same family. This is due to the load that is added to the acquisition cost, or redemption.

Acceptance Market

Investment market based on short-term credit instruments. An acceptance is a time draft or bill of exchange that is accepted as payment for goods. A banker's acceptance, for example, is a time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank, which is a common method of financing short-term debts in international trade including import-export transactions. I: The acceptance market is useful to exporters, who are immediately paid for exports; for importers, who do not need to pay until possession of goods occurs; for the financial institutions, that are able to profit from the acceptances; and for investors who trade acceptances in the secondary market. Acceptances are sold in the secondary market at a discount from face value (similar to the Treasury Bill market), at published acceptance rates.

Abenomics

Nickname for the multi-pronged economic program of Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe. Abenomics seeks to remedy two decades of stagnation by increasing the nation's money supply, boosting government spending and enacting reforms to make the economy more competitive. I: After serving as prime minister briefly from 2006 to 2007, Shinzō Abe began a second term in December 2012. Soon after resuming office, he launched an ambitious plan to bolster Japan's economy, which had been struggling with deflation and a lack of growth for nearly two decades. Abe's program consists of three "arrows." The first consists of printing additional currency - between 60 trillion yen to 70 trillion yen - to make Japanese exports more attractive and generate modest inflation. The second arrow entails new government spending programs to stimulate demand. The third component of Abenomics is more complex - a reform of various regulations to make Japanese industries more competitive. This includes making it easier for companies to fire ineffective workers, something that historically has been difficult from a legal standpoint. Proposed legislation also aims to restructure the utility and pharmaceutical industries and modernize the agricultural sector.

Above Ground Risk

Non-quantifiable risks that can adversely affect a project or investment. Above ground risk is generally used in the energy industry to refer to non-technical risks such as environmental issues and the regulatory climate. More broadly, above ground risk refers to a wide range of somewhat nebulous risks such as political risk, corporate risk, security and corporate governance whose impact is difficult to quantify, but could be significant should one or more of these risks become a real threat. I: Above grounds risks may also include a number of risks that are less acknowledged such as corruption, bribery and conflicts of interest. The degree of above ground risk differs from one nation to the next. Countries with pro-business policies, strong governance and efficient legal systems may have a lower degree of above ground risk than those nations that do not possess these attributes.

A.M. Best

One of the established ratings agencies recognized by the SEC. A.M. Best has traditionally focused exclusively on providing a letter rating for insurance carriers. It has recently branched out into rating financial securities such as bonds. The company basically measures one's ability to fulfill its debt obligations. Ratings range from A++ (superior) to S (suspended). I: Alfred M. Best founded the company named after him in 1899. The company moved from New York to New Jersey in 1965 and is currently headquartered in Oldwick. A.M. Best is a privately-owned enterprise and publishes several ratings periodicals using data reported to the NAIC.

A+/A1

One of the top ratings that a ratings agency assigns to an issuer or insurer. This rating signifies that the security or carrier has stable financial backing and ample cash reserves. The risk of default for investors or policyholders is very low. I: The ratings assigned by the various ratings agencies are based primarily upon the insurer's or issuer's creditworthiness. This rating can therefore be interpreted as a direct measure of the probability of default. However, credit stability and priority of payment are also factored into the rating.

A Priori Probability

Probability calculated by logically examining existing information. A priori probability can most easily be described as making a conclusion based upon deductive reasoning rather than research or calculation. The largest drawback to this method of defining probabilities is that it can only be applied to a finite set of events. I: Priori probabilities are most often used within the deduction method of calculating probability. This is because you must use logic to determine what outcomes of an event are possible in order to determine the number of ways these outcomes can occur. For example, consider how the price of a share can change. Its price can increase, decrease or remain the same. Therefore, according to a priori probability, we can assume that there is a 1-in-3, or 33%, chance of one of the outcomes occurring (all else remaining equal).

A-Shares

Shares in mainland China-based companies that trade on Chinese stock exchanges such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. A-shares are generally only available for purchase by mainland citizens; foreign investment is only allowed through a tightly-regulated structure known as the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) system. I: Most companies listed on Chinese exchanges will offer two shares classes: A-shares and B-shares. B-shares are quoted in foreign currencies (such as the U.S. dollar) and are open to both domestic and foreign investment (provided that locals set up a foreign currency account), while A-shares are only quoted in Chinese renminbi. A-shares experienced explosive growth in the 2005-2007 period as restrictions preventing investment by Chinese citizens slowly began to peel away. In fact, demand was so high for A-shares that they would trade for much higher valuations than what the same stock could be purchased for on a different exchange. The Peoples' Republic of China is working to blend the two classes of stock together, and eventually allow direct foreign investment in mainland companies. It is one of many major financial reforms that the advanced economies of the world hope will occur in the next several years; there is a tremendous amount of pent-up demand for Chinese equity, provided that regulations become uniform and reporting requirements are in-line with global standards.

Ability-To-Pay Taxation

Taxation in the form of a progressive tax. The ability-to-pay principle in taxation maintains that taxes should be levied according a taxpayer's ability to pay. This progressive taxation approach places an increased tax burden on individuals, partnerships, companies, corporations, trusts and certain estates with higher incomes. The theory is that individuals who earn more money can afford to pay more in taxes. I: Ability-to-pay taxation requires that higher earning individuals pay a higher percentage of income towards taxes. The tax rate increases as a percentage along with income. For example, in the United States in 2010, a tax rate of 10% applied to incomes between $0 - $8,375; the tax rate increased incrementally up to 35% for those whose incomes were $373,651 or greater (these figures are based on single filers). Critics of ability-to-pay taxation state that the progressive tax reduces the incentive to earn more money, and penalizes those whose hard work and ingenuity have helped them earn higher incomes.

Absolute Advantage

The ability of a country, individual, company or region to produce a good or service at a lower cost per unit than the cost at which any other entity produces that good or service. Entities with absolute advantages can produce a product or service using a smaller number of inputs and/or using a more efficient process than another party producing the same product or service. I: Here are some examples of how absolute advantage works: -The United States produces 700 million gallons of wine per year, while Italy produces 4 billion gallons of wine per year. Italy has an absolute advantage because it produces many more gallons of wine (the output) in the same amount of time (the input) as the United States. -Jane can knit a sweater in 10 hours, while Kate can knit a sweater in 8 hours. Kate has an absolute advantage over Jane, because it takes her fewer hours (the input) to produce a sweater (the output). An entity can have an absolute advantage in more than one good or service. Absolute advantage also explains why it makes sense for countries, individuals and businesses to trade with one another. Because each has advantages in producing certain products and services, they can both benefit from trade. For example, if Jane can produce a painting in 5 hours while Kate needs 9 hours to produce a comparable painting, Jane has an absolute advantage over Kate in painting. Remember Kate has an absolute advantage over Jane in knitting sweaters. If both Jane and Kate specialize in the products they have an absolute advantage in and buy the products they don't have an absolute advantage in from the other entity, they will both be better off.

Abandonment Value

The value of a project or asset if it were immediately liquidated or sold. The abandonment value of an asset or project can vary for a variety of reasons including liquidity, supply-demand factors and implied fair value appraisals performed by certified appraisers. Also referred to as the liquidation value. I: The abandonment value is generally a cash value, or equivalent, associated with an asset. This value is important for companies when analyzing the profitability of particular projects or assets and deciding whether they should be maintained or abandoned. Abandonment values are also an important factor in bankruptcy proceedings, where assets are typically sold at distressed or liquidation prices.

Absorbed

1. In a general business sense, when a cost is treated as an expense instead of being passed on to the customer in the form of higher prices. 2. In underwriting, when an issue has been completely sold to the public. However, the underwriter may absorb (purchase) any shares it is unable to sell in the IPO in order to support the company's share price. 3. In mergers, when an acquired firm is folded into the acquiring company. The acquired firm is said to have been "absorbed" and the acquiring firm is called the "absorbing firm." This type of merger is called an "absorption." I: 1. For example, if a peanut butter company's cost for peanuts increases from 50 cents per jar to $1.00 per jar but the company keeps the cost of one jar at $3 instead of raising it to $3.50, it has absorbed the increase in peanut prices. 2. There are several basic types of agreements underwriters can make to sell the issuing company's stock. In a best efforts agreement, the underwriter is not responsible for any unsold shares and they revert to the issuer. In a bought deal, the underwriter agrees to buy all the shares and must resell them to recoup its investment. In a standby agreement, the underwriter specifically agrees to absorb any unsold shares. 3. An alternative to absorption is the creation of a new company. These different choices have different tax implications for both the company and its shareholders.

Above Water

1. Refers to the condition of a company's asset when its actual value is higher than the book value used in its financials. 2. Financially referring to a person staying out of economic trouble or a company remaining financially viable. I: 1. Generally, the book value of an asset listed in a company's balance sheet cannot be adjusted according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Should the asset appreciate, its market value would be "above water". A company with above water assets tends to attract value investors. This is because of the hidden value that most investors won't discover if they don't look beyond the financials. For example, if a company purchased a piece of land for $100,000 and the company later discovered an oil reserve on the property, the market value of the land would increase and be above water, because the book value would remain at $100,000. 2. Used in the context of "keeping their head above water" symbolizing the ability to stay alive. For example, company XYZ kept its head above water with an increase in profit even though its revenue dropped.

Abandonment

1. The act of surrendering a claim to, or interest in, a particular asset. 2. The permitted withdrawal from a forward contract that is made for the purchase of deliverable securities. 3. The act of allowing an option to expire unexercised. I: 1. Corporations will generally abandon assets or projects that no longer offer any profitability. In most instances, proper legal documents must be filed with authorities and any damages must be recouped. 2. Abandonment occurs in forward contracts that permit the purchasers to withdraw from the contract, rather than purchase the deliverable securities. 3. In many instances, an option may not be worthwhile or profitable to exercise and, therefore, the purchaser of the option will let the option expire without being exercised.

ABA Bank Index

A banking index that is made up of community banks and banking institutions. This index was created to represent the smaller institutions of the banking industry and stands in contrast to the KBW Banking Index in that respect. The ABA index trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol ABAQ. I: The ABAQ Index is weighted according to market value. The index was created in 2003 in an effort to publicize the community banking industry and is computed for both total and price return. The ABAQ is also designed to aid in improved market liquidity and more equitable market valuations.

Accelerated Death Benefit - ADB

A benefit that can be attached to a life insurance policy that enables the policy holder to receive cash advances against the death benefit in the case of being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Many individuals who choose the accelerated death benefit have less than one year to live and use the money for treatments and other costs needed to stay alive. I: Choosing an insurance policy with an accelerated death benefit allows the policy holder to pay for their daily living in an effort to make it the most comfortable while also allowing the holder to look after his or her family once they pass away. This type of benefit was originally started in the late 1980s in an attempt to alleviate the financial pressures of those that were diagnosed with AIDS.Some policies might have this option available even though it's not mentioned in the contract.

Abstract Of Title

A brief history of the titles for a piece of land. The abstract of title lists all of the legal actions that have been performed or used in conjunction with a piece of property. This is used to determine whether or not there is any kind of claim against a property. I: The abstract of title includes transfers, grants, wills and conveyances, liens and encumbrances. It also provides any evidence or proof of satisfaction or other facts or information pertinent to a piece of property. All potential buyers of a property should request this to determine the status of the property.

Absolute Value

A business valuation method that uses discounted cash flow analysis to determine a company's financial worth. The absolute value method differs from the relative value models that examine what a company is worth compared to its competitors. Absolute value models try to determine a company's intrinsic worth based on its projected cash flows. I: In addition to looking at ratios such as price to earnings and price to book value, value investors like to calculate what an entire business is worth when they are considering whether to buy a particular stock. Discounted cash flow models are one way to determine this worth. They estimate a company's future free cash flows, then discount that value to the present to determine an absolute value for the company. By comparing what a company's share price should be given its absolute value to the price the stock is actually trading it, investors can determine if a stock is currently under or overvalued.

Consumer Cyclicals

A category of stocks that rely heavily on the business cycle and economic conditions. Consumer cyclicals include industries such as automotive, housing, entertainment and retail. The category can be further divided into durable and non-durable sections. Durable cyclicals include physical goods such as hardware or vehicles, while non-durables represent items like movies or hotel services. I: The performance of consumer cyclicals is highly related to the state of the economy. They represent goods and services that are not considered necessities, but luxurious purchases. During contractions or recessions, people have less disposable income to spend on consumer cyclicals. When the economy is expanding or booming, the sales of these goods rise as retail and leisure spending increase.

Abandonment Option

A clause granting parties the option of withdrawing from the contract before the fulfillment or completion of all contractual duties. This clause adds value by giving the parties the ability to end the obligation if it is unprofitable. A type of "real option". I: Abandonment options are commonly used in bilateral agreements without a set time frame for expiry. Usually, one party may decide to exit from the relationship without penalty. An abandonment option often appears in contracts between financial planners and their clients.

Abandonment Clause

A clause in a property insurance contract that, under certain circumstances, permits the property owner to abandon lost or damaged property and still claim a full settlement amount. If the insured party's property cannot be recovered, or the cost to recover or repair it is more than its total value, it can be abandoned and the insured party is entitled to a full settlement amount. I: This type of insurance clause typically comes into play with marine property insurance, such as boats or watercraft. If a property owner's ship is sunk or lost at sea, the abandonment clause affords the owner the right to essentially "give up" on finding or recovering his or her property and subsequently collect a full insurance settlement from the insurer.

Accelerated Benefits

A clause in certain life insurance policies that enables the policy holder to receive the benefits before death. Accelerated benefits are normally reserved for those that suffer from a terminal illness, have a long term high-cost illness, require permanent nursing home confinement or have a medically incapacitating condition. Some insurance companies differ on how much cash can be pulled out and how close to death the insured has to be in order to receive these benefits. Insurers offer anywhere from 25% to 100% of the death benefit as an early payment. Also referred to as living benefits. I: The accelerated benefit is deducted from the death benefit that will be paid to the beneficiary upon the insured's death. It is paid for by adding the cost to the insurance premium. However, some companies do not add the cost to the premium, but instead charge the policyholder only if and when the holder actually needs this benefit. Universal life insurance policies, other permanent life insurance policies, term life insurance and group term or group permanent life insurance policies can offer this benefit.

Acceleration Covenant

A clause included in certain debt securities and swap agreements stating that the immediate collection of payment and termination of contract will take place should any number of clauses being violated by the borrower including default or a downgrade of debt. Also referred to as "acceleration clause." I: This covenant helps to protect parties that extend financing to businesses in need of capital. Under an acceleration covenant, the borrowing party must maintain a specified credit rating in order to prevent termination of the contract and immediate repayment.

Acceleration Clause

A contract provision that allows a lender to require a borrower to repay all or part of an outstanding loan if certain requirements are not met. An acceleration clause outlines the reasons that the lender can demand loan repayment. Also known as "acceleration covenant". I: For example, a borrower who fails to make a payment or who breaks a covenant may be required to pay the lender the balance on a loan. In this case, the borrower is considered in breach of contract. Acceleration clauses are most commonly found in mortgage and real estate loans. Since these loans tend to be so large, the clause helps protect the lender from the risk of borrower default.

Acceptance

A contractual agreement on a time draft or sight draft to pay the amount due at a specified date. The party who is expected to pay the draft writes "accepted", or similar wording indicating acceptance, next to his or her signature along with the date. This person then becomes the acceptor, and is obligated to make the payment by the maturity date.A banker's acceptance is a time draft honored by a bank, and is typically used in international trade. A trade acceptance is a time draft drawn by the seller of goods on a buyer. In a trade acceptance, the buyer is the acceptor. I: An acceptance agreement strengthens a time draft by putting the acceptor under contractual obligation to pay. International trade is facilitated by banks enacting banker's acceptances, thereby guaranteeing the payment for goods.

Abatement Cost

A cost borne by many businesses for the removal and/or reduction of an undesirable item that they have created. Abatement costs are generally incurred when corporations are required to reduce possible nuisances or negative byproducts created during production. I: Examples of abatement costs would be the pollution reduction costs of paper mills and noise reduction costs of manufacturing plants.

AC-DC Option

A derivative that gives an investor the right - but not the obligation - to buy (call) or sell (put) a security at a certain price (strike), and in which the investor makes the buy or sell decision at a specific time after the option is in force, rather than at the time of purchase. The AC-DC option is basically an option, which on a future date can become a call or put option at the buyer's discretion. Also called a "chooser option" or "hermaphrodite option". I: The value of an AC-DC option is based on a complex formula that takes all of these variables into account. An AC-DC option is a type of exotic option, meaning it has more complicated terms than traditional, plain-vanilla options.

Absolute Beneficiary

A designation of a beneficiary that can not be changed without the written consent of that beneficiary. Also referred to as an "irrevocable beneficiary", absolute beneficiaries can also refer to a trust, an employee benefit plan such as a pension, or any other instrument or contract with a beneficiary clause. I: The naming of absolute beneficiaries is common in divorce settlements or liability cases where part of the settlement is the naming of a given person as a beneficiary. Any designations of absolute beneficiaries should be made very carefully and with professional consultation.

ABX index

A financial benchmark that measures the overall value of mortgages made to borrowers with subprime or weak credit. The ABX index uses credit default swap contracts to come up with an overall value and is made up of 20 bonds that is comprised of groups of subprime mortgages. Using this index, financial institutions are able to determine if the market for these securities are improving or worsening. Also referred to as Asset-Backed Securities Index. I: For example, if the ADX Index increases, this means there is less risk with subprime mortgages and vice versa. It was created by Markit and is useful for investors interested in subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages being mortgages given to customers with faulty or weak credit.

Accelerated Bookbuild

A form of offering in the equity capital markets. It involves offering shares in a short time period, with little to no marketing. The bookbuild of the offering is done vey quickly in one or two days. Underwriters may sometimes guarantee a minimum price and proceeds to the firm. I: An accelerated bookbuild is often used when a company is in immediate need of financing and debt financing is out of the question. This can be the case when a firm is looking to make an offer to acquire another firm. For example, BetandWin.com used an accelerated bookbuild to raise between 200 and 300 million euros to help fund the acquisition of Ongame E-Solutions, the operator of pokerroom.com, one of the most popular poker websites.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - ADIA

A government-owned investment organization that manages the sovereign wealth fund for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. According to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute's rankings, the ADIA sovereign wealth fund ranked as the largest in the world in 2010. It is also one of the world's largest institutional investors. I: The huge amount of wealth managed by the ADIA is sourced primarily from Abu Dhabi's large oil reserves. The ADIA prefers to remain secretive, so not a great deal is known about its investment methodology or portfolio of holdings.

Above Full-Employment Equilibrium

A macroeconomic term used to describe the real gross domestic product (GDP) is currently in excess of its long-run average, or some other historical measure. Accordingly, the amount that the current real GDP is greater then the historic average is called an inflationary gap, as this will create inflationary pressures in this particular economy. I: Above full-employment equilibrium simply means that a given economy is producing goods, as measured by its GDP, at a higher level then it usually does. Because this market is in equilibrium, there will not be any excess supply in the short run, but this overly active economy will create more demand for goods and services, which will push prices upwards and possibly, lead to a greater level of inflation.

Absorption Costing

A managerial accounting cost method of expensing all costs associated with manufacturing a particular product. Absorption costing uses the total direct costs and overhead costs associated with manufacturing a product as the cost base. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) require absorption costing for external reporting.Absorption costing is also known as "full absorption costing". I: Some of the direct costs associated with manufacturing a product include wages for workers physically manufacturing a product, the raw materials used in producing a product, and all of the overhead costs, such as all utility costs, used in producing a good. Absorption costing includes anything that is a direct cost in producing a good as the cost base. This is contrasted with variable costing, in which fixed manufacturing costs are not absorbed by the product. Advocates promote absorption costing because fixed manufacturing costs provide future benefits.

Absolute Breadth Index - ABI

A market indicator used to determine volatility levels in the market without factoring in price direction. It is calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between the number of advancing issues and the number of declining issues. Typically, large numbers suggest volatility is increasing, which is likely to cause significant changes in stock prices in the coming weeks. I: This tool is classified as a breadth indicator because the advancing/declining values are the only values used to create it. This index can be calculated using any exchange or a subset of an exchange, but traditionally the New York Stock Exchange has been the accepted standard.

Abnormal Earnings Valuation Model

A method for determining a company's worth that is based on book value and earnings. Also known as the residual income model, it looks at whether management's decisions cause a company to perform better or worse than anticipated. The model says that investors should pay more than book value if earnings are higher than expected and less than book value if earnings are lower than expected I: There are numerous other methods for valuing companies, including P/E ratio, price-to-book value ratio, return on equity, return on capital employed and discounted cash flow. Investors and analysts should not place too much emphasis on any one of these (or a number of other) measures of value because no single method can provide a complete picture of a company's financial performance.

A-B Split

A method of testing the effectiveness of marketing methods or media. Using A-B split marketing, a list of target names is split into two groups on a random basis, with one group designated as a control group and the other as a test group. The objective of the A-B split is to determine which single variable is the most effective in improving response rates to a marketing campaign or achieving some other desired outcome. I: A-B split has been been used for mailing campaigns in the past, but has also successfully adapted for use in interactive media, for testing the effectiveness of e-mail blasts and banner advertisements. For example, an email campaign by a newsletter publisher may include a specific "call to action" - such as subscribe within 48 hours to receive a 20% discount - embedded in the message to half the target audience, and no call to action (i.e. no solicitation to subscribe or mention of a discount) in the message to the other half. This will enable the publisher to determine if the "call to action" really works, and whether the response rate is good enough to justify the 20% discount.

Absolute Priority

A rule that stipulates the order of payment - creditors before shareholders - in the event of liquidation. The absolute priority rule is used in bankruptcies to decide what portion of payment will be received by which participants. Debts to creditors will be paid first and shareholders (partial owners) divide what remains. Regarding the estate of a deceased person, the absolute priority rule will ensure payment of outstanding debts before the distribution to beneficiaries. Also known as "liquidation preference." I: Absolute priority specifies the pecking order. Senior creditors always get first grabs at the proceeds from liquidation, and shareholders are the last to get paid. This rule provides a degree of protection to creditors in the event of insolvency or death. The division of benefits (cash) is not always the result of a bankruptcy. It can also occur due to the liquidation of assets in order to pay down a company's liabilities. In estate cases if the resources of the estate are insufficient to pay off the debts, assets will need to be liquidated to handle the obligations.

Abeyance

A situation in which the rightful owner of a property, office or title has not yet been decided. Abeyance results when the current owner or holder does not declare a single current beneficiary. Instead, the new owner is determined through the outcome of a particular event at some time in the future. Thus, the ownership of the property, office, or title is left unfilled. Abeyance is derived from the Old French word "abeance." which means a longing or gaping, with future expectation. I: Many estates are placed in trusts with stipulations that must be fulfilled before ownership can be taken. For example, if a trust fund is to be given to a child once he or she finishes college, the funds are said to be in abeyance until the goal is reached. Abeyance also exists when there is no one who can easily declare future ownership. For example, a trust could be set up by a parent who has no grandchildren, but hopes to have grandchildren one day, and wishes to leave funds to them at some future date. Because these grandchildren do not yet exist, the proceeds would be held in abeyance until these children are born.

A Ton Of Money

A slang term used to describe a significant amount of money. The amount implied typically depends on the person, company or situation. I: We may all have a different idea of what constitutes a "ton of money", but according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a ton of $1 bills amounts to $908,000 - nearly $1 million!If you're talking about a ton of coins, then it's a different story - a ton of quarters is worth $40,000, and one ton of pennies (363,000 pennies to be exact) is worth $3,630.

Abu Dhabi Investment Council - ADIC

A sovereign wealth fund owned by Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is wholly owned and administered by the UAE. The Abu Dhabi Investment Council is funded by revenue from the country's oil industry, and invests those revenues in a wide range of asset classes, including equities, debt, real estate, infrastructure and private equity. Its sister fund is the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), which is one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. I: The Abu Dhabi Investment Council was established in 2007. While the fund does invest in assets across the globe, the primary focus of the ADIC is to invest in Abu Dhabi's economy. Domestic assets include banks, investment houses and insurance companies.

Accelerated Share Repurchase - ASR

A specific method by which corporations can repurchase outstanding shares of their stock. The accelerated share repurchase (ASR) is usually accomplished by the corporation purchasing shares of its stock from an investment bank. The investment bank borrows the shares from clients or share lenders and sells them to the company. The shares are returned to the client through purchases in the open market, often purchased over a period that can range from one day to several months. I: Accelerated share repurchases allow corporations to transfer the risk of the stock buyback to the investment bank in return for a premium. The corporation is therefore able to immediately transfer a predetermined amount of money to the investment bank in return for its shares of stock. ASRs are often used to buy shares back at a faster pace and reduce the amount of shares outstanding right away.

Acceptable Quality Level - AQL

A statistical measurement of the maximum number of defective goods considered acceptable in a particular sample size. If the acceptable quality level (AQL) is not reached for a particular sampling of goods, manufacturers will review the various parameters in the production process to determine the areas causing the defects. The AQL is an important statistic to companies seeking a Six Sigma level of quality control. I: The AQL of a product can vary from industry to industry. For example, medical products are more likely to have a more stringent AQL because defective products can result in health risks. Companies have to weigh the added cost associated with the stringent testing and potentially higher spoilage due to a lower defect acceptance with the potential cost of a product recall.

Absolute Frequency

A statistical term describing the total number of trials or observations within a given interval or frequency bin. The frequency bins can be of any size, but they must be mutually exclusive, exhaustive and the data must be grouped. I: The absolute frequency is simply the total number of observations or trials within a given range. For example, assume there is a collection of grouped data for the percentage returns for a particular stock, which is ranged from lowest to highest. If there are 56 observations within the 5-7% frequency bin, then the absolute frequency of this bin is 56.

Absolute Return Index

A stock index designed to measure absolute returns. The absolute return index is actually a composite index made up of five other indexes. This index is used to compare the absolute returns posted by the hedge fund market as a whole against individual hedge funds. I: The hedge fund absolute return index (HFRX) measures the comprehensive overall returns of hedge funds. Since hedge funds explore unique investment strategies and seek to obtain absolute returns rather than focus on beating the benchmark, the HFRX is representative of all hedge fund strategies.

Accelerated Payments

A term associated with making additional unscheduled payments on a loan at predetermined, or random intervals. Making additional unscheduled payments reduces the principal balance of the loan, meaning that more principal and less interest is paid off in subsequent payments. Making accelerated payments will lead to the early pay-off of a loan. I: Most loans have an amortization schedule that defines how much principal and interest will be paid with each scheduled payment, so that the loan will be paid-off at the end of an established term. Also, the amount of interest paid with each payment is a function of the remaining principal balance of the loan at that time. The higher the rate of interest on a loan, the more beneficial it can be to make accelerated payments. The faster the borrower applies accelerated payments toward the principal balance of a loan, the more interest that is saved.

Above Par

A term used to describe the price of a security when it is trading above its face value. A security usually trades at above par when its income distributions are higher than those of other instruments currently available in the market.If an investor purchases a security above face value, he or she will incur a capital loss at maturity when it is redeemed for face value. I: For example, a 5-year bond with $1,000 face value that pays a coupon of 10% annually may trade closer to $1,168 if similar bond rates decline to 6%. This is because investors are willing to pay more for a higher coupon; thus, it is said to be trading above par.In order to make its yield equal current market rates, the bond should trade at its present value.In the above example, the following calculation was used to determine the theoretical price the bond would trade atN = 5 yearsI/Y = 6 (market rate, 6%)FV = $1,000 (face value)PMT = $100 (10% coupon)Payments/Year = 1 (annual coupon payment)

Abnormal Return

A term used to describe the returns generated by a given security or portfolio over a period of time that is different from the expected rate of return. The expected rate of return is the estimated return based on an asset pricing model, using a long run historical average or multiple valuation. I: An abnormal return can be either a good or bad thing, as it is merely a summary of how the actual returns differ from the predicted return. For example, earning 30% in a mutual fund that is expected to average 10% per year would create a positive abnormal return of 20%. If, on the other hand, the actual return was 5%, this would generate a negative abnormal return of 5%.

A-B Trust

A trust created by a married couple with the objective of minimizing estate taxes. An A-B trust is is a trust that divides into two upon the death of the first spouse. It is formed with each spouse placing assets in the trust and naming as the final beneficiary any suitable person except the other spouse. The trust gets its name from the fact that it splits into two upon the first spouse's death - trust A or the survivor's trust, and trust B or the decedent's trust. I: The surviving spouse has complete control over the survivor's trust, which contains his or her property interests, but has limited control over the assets in the deceased spouse's trust. However, this limited control over the assets in the decedent's trust will still enable the surviving spouse to live in the couple's house and draw income from the trust, provided these terms are stipulated in the trust. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the property in the decedent's trust passes to the beneficiary(s) named in this trust. As this property is not considered part of the second spouse's estate for purposes of estate tax, double-taxation is avoided.

Absolute Auction

A type of auction where the sale is awarded to the highest bidder. Absolute auctions do not have a reserve price which sets a minimum required bid for the item to be sold. One type of absolute auction relates to foreclosed properties, where the winning bid acquires the foreclosed property. This is opposed to a lender confirmation auction, where the lender must approve the bid in order to complete the transaction. I: An absolute auction can occur in various venues including the foreclosure marketplace, the online marketplace (such as eBay.com) or live auction events. In this type of auction, the highest bidder "wins" the item, whether it is real estate property or any other type of product. Absolute auctions are often implemented where there is an immediate demand to sell an item.

ABA Transit Number

A unique number assigned by the American Bankers Association (ABA) that identifies a specific federal or state chartered bank or savings institution. In order to qualify for an ABA transit number, the financial institution must be eligible to hold an account at a Federal Reserve bank. ABA transit numbers are also known as ABA routing numbers, and are used to identify which bank will facilitate the payment of the check. I: The ABA Transit number was originally developed in 1910 to indicate check processing endpoints. Since then, the number's use has increased to include participants in check clearing between banking institutions, automated clearing houses and online banking activities. The ABA check routing number is usually the first nine digits in the bottom row of numbers on any check. For example, if the bottom row showed 123456789 0100100120: 0123, the ABA routing number would be 123456789.

ABC Agreement

An agreement made between a purchasing member with a seat on the NYSE and the firm in which he or she works. With the approval of the NYSE, this agreement stipulates that the employee of the firm may: a) transfer the seat to another employee of the firm b) retain ownership and purchase a new seat for another individual designated by the firm c) sell the seat and transfer any gains to the firm. I: ABC agreements are important because the firm pays for the seat on the NYSE that the employee is using. As such, the firm wishes to insure itself against the possibility of the employee - should he or she no longer work for the firm - negatively impacting the firm's ability to trade on the NYSE. The ABC agreement is so named because of the three main provisions it allows. Similar types of arrangements exist between firms and their employees on various other exchanges.

Acceleration Principle

An economic concept that draws a connection between output and capital investment. According to the acceleration principle, if demand for consumer goods increases, then the percentage change in the demand for machines and other investment necessary to make these goods will increase even more (and vice versa). In other words, if income increases, there will be a corresponding but magnified change in investment. Also referred to as the accelerator principle. I: The acceleration principle has the effect of exaggerating booms and recessions in the economy. This makes sense, as companies want to optimize their profits when they have a successful product, investing in more factories and capital investments to produce more. If a recession hits, they will reduce investment. This investment reduction can increase the length of the recession. This is because less investment means less jobs created, and so on.

Ability To Pay

An economic principle stating that the amount of tax an individual pays should be dependent on the level of burden the tax will create relative to the wealth of the individual. The ability to pay principle suggests that the real amount of tax paid is not the only factor that has to be considered, and that other issues such as ability to pay should also factor into a tax system. I: The application of this principle is a progressive tax system, in which individuals with higher incomes are asked to pay more tax than individuals with lower incomes. Classical economists like Adam Smith believed any elements of socialism, such as a progressive tax, would destroy the initiative of the population within a free market economy. However, many countries have blended capitalism and socialism with a great degree of success.

Accelerator Theory

An economic theory that suggests that as demand or income increases in an economy, so does the investment made by firms. Furthermore, accelerator theory suggests that when demand levels result in an excess in demand, firms have two choices of how to meet demand. Raise prices to cause demand to drop. Increase investment to match demand. The accelerator theory proposes that most companies choose to increase production thus increase their profits. The theory further explains how this growth attracts more investors, which accelerates growth. I: The accelerator theory was developed early in the twentieth century by Thomas Nixon Carver and Albert Aftalion, among others. Although this theory was conceived before Keynesian economics, it emerged just as the Keynesian theory came to dominate the economic mindset of the twentieth century. Critics argue that accelerator theory should not be used because it eliminates the possibility of controlling demand through price controls. However, empirical research on the accelerator theory has supported its use. The accelerator theory is interpreted to create economic policies. For example, would it be better to use tax cuts to create more disposable income for consumers who would then demand more products, or would it be faster to give those cuts to business, which will then be able to use more capital for growth? Every government and their economists create their own interpretation of accelerator theory and the questions it can be used to answer.

Accelerated Reply Mail - ARM

An expedited delivery of business reply mail offered by the U.S. Postal Service. Reply mail may be routed to a postal facility other than the one to which the mail is addressed, and is available for pickup by the ARM customer, or reshipped by express mail to the customer. The ARM service is generally used to receive orders and payments faster, thus reducing order-processing times and enabling more efficient cash management. I: Since there are costs involved in using the ARM service, it only becomes economical above certain thresholds for reply mail volumes. While the ARM service may not offer an attractive payoff for small businesses, it may be a necessary cost of doing business for larger companies. For such companies, faster receipt of receivables improves cash flow, thereby providing a return on investment that may be an order of magnitude higher than the cost of the service.

Abandonment And Salvage

An expression that describes the forfeiture of property and the ensuing claim over that property by a second party. Abandonment and salvage can be added as a clause in an insurance contract; this gives the insurance company the ability to accept the abandoned property. Abandonment must be expressed with intent. The potential financial rewards mean that salvage rights are sometimes legally contested by several parties. I: Salvage and abandonment clauses are usually found in marine insurance contracts. For example, if a vessel sinks and the owner thinks it would be too expensive to reclaim the ship, he or she could declare it abandoned. The insurance company could then claim ownership and salvage rights to the sunken ship. Advancements in technology have made it possible and financially viable to reach previously inaccessible wrecks, resulting in increased salvage claims.

Absentee Landlord

An individual or entity that rents or leases real estate to another party, but does not reside on the premises. An absentee landlord could be anyone from a local investor to an overseas conglomerate. Regardless of the size of their operations, absentee landlords generally seek to generate rental income from their holdings. Absentee landlords with substantial holdings usually employ management companies to maintain their properties and collect rental payments. I: Absentee landlords are the norm, rather than the exception, for commercial properties. The term "landlord" may indicate that the individual or entity's real estate holdings are likely to be sizable. An absentee landlord may also have a long-term perspective with regard to real estate investments, with ongoing rental income rather than capital appreciation being the primary investment objective.

Absentee Owner

An individual who owns a piece of real estate but does not live in it. An absentee owner may also be an entity such as a corporation or real estate investment trust (REIT). The real estate held by an absentee owner can range widely - while an individual may own a single condominium or apartment, a corporation may own a large chunk of real estate such as an apartment building or shopping mall. The primary motivation of absentee owners is to generate returns from their real estate holdings in the form of rental income and potential capital appreciation. I: The proportion of absentee owners in the population at large is directly correlated to the degree of real estate speculation prevalent in the economy. A strong property market and economy coupled with relatively low interest rates may result in a higher proportion of absentee owners, while a sluggish market and economy may limit the number of absentee owners.

Ability To Repay

An individual's financial capacity to make good on a debt. Specifically, the phrase "ability to repay" was used in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in Title XIV, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, to describe the requirement that mortgage originators substantiate that potential borrowers can afford the mortgage they are applying for. Originators are required to look at a borrower's total current income and existing debt, for example, to make sure that the existing debt plus the potential mortgage debt, property taxes and required insurance do not exceed a stated percentage of the borrower's income. I: The purpose of this legislation and the "ability to repay" standard was to prevent lenders from employing the same loose lending criteria used during the housing bubble of the mid-2000s, in which many people were allowed to take out mortgages they couldn't really afford, then lost their homes to foreclosure a few years later. Under the new laws, individuals who are not properly subjected to the ability to repay standard during the origination process may have a defense against foreclosure.

Abusive Tax Shelter

An investment scheme that claims to reduce income tax without changing the value of the user's income or assets. Abusive tax shelters serve no economic purpose other than lowering the federal or state tax owed when filing. Often, these schemes channel funds through trusts or partnerships to avoid taxation. I: People who invest in abusive tax shelters can be penalized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Typically, when the IRS determines someone has used such a scheme, the person will owe back taxes with accrued interest. To help taxpayers recognize potential schemes, the IRS has compiled a list of transactions that are abusive tax shelters. If a tax shelter resembles a listed transaction, it is considered abusive and the users may face penalties.

Accelerative Endowment

An option in a whole life insurance policy to use accumulated dividends to convert the policy into an endowment policy prior to its normal maturity date. An endowment policy provides for a lump sum payment to the insured after a certain period. I: An accelerative endowment is a form of an accelerated option that allows policyholders to access the value of their life insurance policies prior to death. The lump sum received can be invested any way you want or it can be used to buy an annuity policy to generate some fixed income.

Abeyance Order

An order that is temporarily placed on hold or held in suspension, due to prevailing circumstances, until it can be fulfilled. In advertising, an abeyance order refers to an order from an advertiser for a media slot on television or radio that is temporarily unavailable. As a result, the order may be held in abeyance until a suitable advertising slot opens up. I: In the legal context, an abeyance order generally refers to an order used in bankruptcy proceedings where the court declares that a claim on a property is held in abeyance. This can occur, for example, if the rightful owner or the holder of the mortgage on a property cannot be clearly identified. This situation was not uncommon after the U.S. housing market collapse from 2008 onwards.

Above The Market

An order to buy or sell at a price set higher than the current market price of the security. Examples of above the market orders include: a limit order to sell, a stop order to buy, or a stop-limit order to buy. I: This is a strategy that is often used by momentum traders. For example, a stop order would be placed above the resistance level to buy. Should the security's price break through the resistance level, the investor may be able to participate in the upward trend.

Academy Of Financial Divorce Practitioners

An organization dedicated to the development of financial expertise with respect to divorce. The Academy of Financial Divorce Practitioners trains its members in the financial aspects of divorce, such as alimony, property settlements, child support and retirement assets. Members of the academy, known as certified financial divorce practitioners (CFDPs), supply unbiased financial expertise to facilitate equitable divorce proceedings. I: The Academy of Financial Divorce Practitioners provides its members with two avenues of training. Prospective CFDPs may train in the classroom or undergo a self-study program. The academy also supplies its members with specialized software for financial planning.

Abend

An unexpected end to a computer program that results in the system crashing or closing down. Derived from the abbreviated version of the term "abnormal end", abend crashes in a business setting can cost companies a significant amount of money. This is why many information technology (IT) departments spend a lot of resources to detect and correct bugs in software. I: An abnormal end, rather than a planned termination, of a computer program may either be due to an easily resolved problem (such as insufficient memory) or on account of a technical glitch that is difficult to identify. The term "abend" is an archaic one that is more commonly used with reference to older mainframe computers such as the IBM 360, rather than modern desktops and laptops.

Absolute Rate

The fixed portion of an interest-rate swap, expressed as a percentage rather than as a premium or a discount to a reference rate. I: The absolute rate is a combination of the reference rate and the premium or discounted fixed percentage. For example, if the LIBOR is 3% and the fixed interest portion of the swap is at a 7% premium, the absolute rate is 10%. It is sometimes also referred to as an absolute swap yield.

Absenteeism

The habitual non-presence of an employee at his or her job. Possible causes of absenteeism include job dissatisfaction, ongoing personal issues and chronic medical problems. Regardless of cause, a worker with a pattern of being absent may put his reputation and his employed status at risk. However, some forms of absence from work are legally protected and cannot be grounds for termination. I: Companies expect their employees to miss some work each year due to vacation, illness and personal issues/responsibilities, but missing work becomes a problem for the company when the employee is absent repeatedly and/or unexpectedly, especially if that employee must be paid while absent. While disability leave, performance of jury duty and the observance of religious holidays are all legally protected reasons for an employee to miss work, some employees abuse these laws to take time off that they shouldn't, which incurs unfair costs to the employer.

A-Credit

The highest credit grade available as assigned to a borrower by a lender. Lenders use a credit grading system to qualify borrowers. The higher the borrower's credit grade, the lower the interest rate offered to that borrower on a loan. I: Credit grading by lenders is based on many factors, including a borrower's FICO score, debt-to-income ratio, loan-to-value ratio and past delinquencies. This grade of credit may be associated with a plus or minus for more depth. In this case, a grade of "A+" would indicate higher credit worthiness than a score of "A-".

AAA

The highest possible rating assigned to the bonds of an issuer by credit rating agencies. An issuer that is rated AAA has an exceptional degree of creditworthiness and can easily meet its financial commitments. Ratings agencies such as Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings use the AAA nomenclature to indicate the highest credit quality, while Moody's uses Aaa. I: As bonds that are rated AAA are perceived to have little risk of default, they offer investors the lowest yields among bonds of comparable maturity. The global credit crisis of 2008 resulted in a number of companies, including General Electric, losing their AAA rating. By the end of 2009, only four companies in the S&P 500 possessed the coveted AAA rating: Automatic Data Processing, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and ExxonMobil.

AA+/Aa1

The highest rating that some ratings agencies assign to a security or insurance carrier. This rating signifies that there is little to no risk of default and is often assigned to securities that have AMBAC or another type of insurance backing. Investors or policyholders can rest assured that their money is secure with this rating. I: The ratings assigned by the various ratings agencies are based primarily upon the insurer's or issuer's creditworthiness. This rating can therefore be interpreted as a direct measure of the probability of default. However, credit stability and priority of payment are also factored into the rating.

A-Note

The highest tranche of an asset backed security or other structured financial product. An A-note is senior to other notes, such as B-notes in bankruptcy or other credit proceedings, and is paid back first with funds from the underlying assets. They can be labeled AAA, AA, or A, depending on the credit quality of the underlying asset. Can also be referred to as a class a note. I: Lower tranches of notes are referred to as subordinate notes. While an A-note does offer more credit protection than other notes, investors in this tranche must still pay attention to the credit worthiness of investments in the subordinate classes. If the risk levels of those investments increase, the chances of default and repayment risk rise.

Absorbed Cost

The indirect costs that are associated with manufacturing. Absorbed costs include such expenses as insurance, or property taxes for the building in which the manufacturing process occurs. When the total manufacturing costs are determined, the implicit absorbed costs are not considered, but will be included in a separate account. I: On a company's income statement, the cost of goods sold entry does not reflect the absorbed costs; only the actual costs of the material is included. Incurring insurance and property tax expenses is a required part of the manufacturing process, but these absorbed costs are classified as separate expenses.

Absolute Physical Life

The length of time that it takes for an asset takes to become fully depreciated, at which time it provides no additional use. The absolute physical life is often taken into consideration when companies purchase assets. The measure is typically associated with assets that have low risk of becoming technically obsolete. I: When looking at the life of an asset, people can take contrasting perspectives. For example, let's examine a manager's decision to purchase new computers for his or her business. The manager may decide to base the decision on how long it will be until the computers become obsolete by conventional standards. On the other hand, if the manager isn't worried about having older technology, he or she may care only about the absolute physical life of the computers, which can be considerably longer.

Abandon Rate

The percentage of inbound phone calls made to a call center or service desk that are abandoned by the customer before speaking to an agent. It is calculated as abandoned calls divided by total inbound calls (in percent). Abandon rates have a direct relation to waiting times. The longer the time that customers have to wait before being connected to an agent, the higher the abandon rate is likely to be. I: For example, if a call center receives an average of 1,000 calls a day, of which 40 are abandoned by customers, the abandon rate is 4%. High abandon times may indicate under-allocation of resources to the call center or help desk by the company, and can saddle a company with the reputation of offering poor customer service. It may also result in lost sales opportunities and highly dissatisfied customers, as anyone who has spent a significant amount of time waiting in a virtual queue for customer service can attest.

Absorption Rate

The rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. It is calculated by dividing the total number of available homes by the average number of sales per month. The figure shows how many months it will take to exhaust the supply of homes on the market. A high absorption rate may indicate that the supply of available homes will shrink rapidly, increasing the odds that a homeowner will sell a piece of property in a shorter period of time. I: For example, suppose that a city has 1,000 homes currently on the market to be sold. If buyers snap up 100 homes per month, the supply of homes will be exhausted in 10 months (1,000 homes divided by 100 homes sold per month). If a homeowner is looking to sell a piece of property, he knows that half of the market will be sold out in five months. This rate does not take in to account additional homes that enter the market. The absorption rate can also be a signal to developers to start building new homes.

Absolute Return

The return that an asset achieves over a certain period of time. This measure looks at the appreciation or depreciation (expressed as a percentage) that an asset - usually a stock or a mutual fund - achieves over a given period of time. Absolute return differs from relative return because it is concerned with the return of a particular asset and does not compare it to any other measure or benchmark. I: In general, a mutual fund seeks to produce returns that are better that its peers, its fund category, and/or the market as a whole. This type of fund management is referred to as a relative return approach to fund investing. As an investment vehicle, an absolute return fund seeks to make positive returns by employing investment management techniques that differ from traditional mutual funds. Absolute return investment techniques include using short selling, futures, options, derivatives, arbitrage, leverage and unconventional assets.Alfred Winslow Jones is credited with forming the first absolute return fund in New York in 1949. In recent years, this so-called absolute return approach to fund investing has become one of the fastest growing investment products in the world and is more commonly referred to as a hedge fund.

Abnormal Spoilage

The waste or wrecking of inventory beyond what is expected in normal business processes. Abnormal spoilage can be the result of broken machinery or from inefficient operations, and is considered to be at least partially preventable. In accounting, abnormal spoilage is recorded as a separate item: loss from abnormal spoilage. I: Material spoilage is often discovered during the inspection and quality control process. In job costing, spoilage can be assigned to specific jobs or units, or can be assigned to all jobs associated with production as part of the overall overhead.

A-/A3

This is generally the third- or fourth-highest rating that a rating agency assigns to a security or insurance carrier. It is often the lowest investment-grade rating, but it signifies that the issuer is fairly stable with relatively low default risk. I: The ratings assigned by the various ratings agencies are based primarily upon the insurer's or issuer's creditworthiness. This rating can therefore be interpreted as a direct measure of the probability of default. However, credit stability and priority of payment are also factored into the rating.

Accelerated Option

This term refers to an option in an insurance contract, usually in the form of a rider, that allows for accelerated benefits or partial benefits sooner than they would otherwise be payable. Alternatively, in life insurance contracts, an accelerated option can refer to the option that allows the policy holder to apply the accumulated cash value to pay off the policy. I: One form of an accelerated option is the accelerated death benefit rider in a whole life insurance policy. The terms and conditions of receiving the benefits are outlined in advance, and almost always include a provision for benefits if the policyholder becomes terminally ill. Another form is the option to use the cash value of the policy to prepay the remaining balance of premiums due in a lump sum payment.

Absolute Title

Title to a property that is free of any encumbrances or deficiencies. Absolute title gives unequivocal right of ownership to the owner, and cannot be disputed or challenged by anyone else. This is opposed to titles with liens, attachments or judgments against them. Also known as a perfect title. I: A title search will usually unearth any problems with regard to the title of a property. The search is well worth the cost when someone is considering buying real estate. A title search is usually conducted at the local registry office.

Absolute Interest

Total and complete ownership of an asset or property. An individual with an absolute interest has both a legal and beneficial possession of said asset or property. The term "absolute interest" indicates that the owner's interest is not diluted by another party's ownership, nor is it dependent on conditions that must be fulfilled. I: An absolute interest in an asset or property gives the owner full entitlement to the benefits and privileges that accrue from such ownership. It is the opposite of a contingent interest, which confers an ownership interest only upon the fulfillment of certain conditions or the occurrence of specific circumstances.

A/A2

Usually the second- or third-highest rating that a rating agency assigns to a security or carrier. This rating signifies that there is a relatively low risk of default because the issuer or carrier is fairly stable. Investors and policyholders are therefore taking very little risk with these companies. I: The ratings assigned by the various ratings agencies are based primarily upon the insurer's or issuer's creditworthiness. This rating can therefore be interpreted as a direct measure of the probability of default. However, credit stability and priority of payment are also factored into the rating.