Currency Carry Trade

A currency carry trade is a strategy whereby a high-yielding currency funds the trade with a low-yielding currency. A trader using this strategy attempts to capture the difference between the rates, which can often be substantial, depending on the amount of leverage used.The carry trade is one of the most popular trading strategies in the forex market. The most popular carry trades have involved buying currency pairs like the Australian dollar/Japanese yen and New Zealand dollar/Japanese yen because the interest rate spreads of these currency pairs have been quite high. The first step in putting together a carry trade is to find out which currency offers a high yield and which one offers a low yield.

Currency Peg

A currency peg is a policy in which a national government or central bank sets a fixed exchange rate for its currency with a foreign currency or a basket of currencies and stabilizes the exchange rate between countries.The currency exchange rate is the value of a currency compared to another. While some currencies are free-floating and rates fluctuate based on supply and demand in the market, others are fixed and pegged to another currency.Pegging provides long-term predictability of exchange rates for business planning and helps to promote economic stability.

Money Supply

The money supply is the sum total of all of the currency and other liquid assets in a country's economy on the date measured. The money supply includes all cash in circulation and all bank deposits that the account holder can easily convert to cash.Governments issue paper currency and coins through their central banks or treasuries, or a combination of both. In order to keep the economy stable, banking regulators increase or reduce the available money supply through policy changes and regulatory decisions.

Currency Exchange

A currency exchange is a licensed business that allows customers to exchange one currency for another. Currency exchange of physical money (coins and paper bills) is usually done over the counter at a teller station, which can be found in various places such as airports, banks, hotels, and resorts. Currency exchanges make money by charging a nominal fee and through the bid-ask spread in a currency.Also known as a "bureau de change" or "casa de cambio," a currency exchange should not be confused with the foreign exchange (forex) market where traders and financial institutions transact in currencies.

Demand Deposit

A demand deposit account (DDA) is a bank account from which deposited funds can be withdrawn at any time, without advance notice.

Activity Ratios

An activity ratio is a type of financial metric that indicates how efficiently a company is leveraging the assets on its balance sheet, to generate revenues and cash. Commonly referred to as efficiency ratios, activity ratios help analysts gauge how a company handles inventory management, which is key to its operational fluidity and overall fiscal health.

Exempt Transaction

An exempt transaction is a type of securities transaction where a business does not need to file registrations with any regulatory bodies, provided the number of securities involved is relatively minor compared to the scope of the issuer's operations and that no new securities are being issued.

Hybrid Security

A hybrid security is a single financial security that combines two or more different financial instruments. Hybrid securities, often referred to as "hybrids," generally combine both debt and equity characteristics. The most common type of hybrid security is a convertible bond that has features of an ordinary bond but is heavily influenced by the price movements of the stock into which it is convertible.

Hybrid Annuity

A hybrid annuity is a retirement income investment that allows investors to split their funds between fixed-rate and variable-rate components. Investors can divide their savings between conservative assets that offer a low but guaranteed rate of return and riskier assets that offer the potential for higher returns. As in any annuity, the goal is to create a steady stream of income during retirement.

Blended Rate

A Blended Rate is an average interest rate derived from combining multiple different rates. It is commonly used in loans or investment portfolios where multiple rates are involved, simplifying the calculation and comparison of interest. For instance, in a mortgage scenario, if a borrower consolidates an existing high-interest loan with a new lower-interest loan, the blended rate reflects the overall interest level of the combined loans. The blended rate is typically calculated by taking a weighted average of the individual rates based on their respective weights. This concept is crucial in financial decision-making, enabling borrowers and investors to better assess the overall cost or return.

Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings is a globally recognized credit rating agency, founded in 1914, with headquarters in New York and London. Fitch Ratings primarily provides credit ratings for countries, corporations, financial institutions, and securities, helping investors understand the credit risk associated with these entities. Fitch's rating scale ranges from the highest rating of AAA to the lowest rating of D, reflecting the credit quality and default risk of the rated entity. As one of the three major international rating agencies (alongside Standard & Poor's and Moody's), Fitch Ratings' assessments hold significant influence in the global financial markets and are widely used for investment decisions and risk management.

Accounting Standard

An accounting standard is a common set of principles, standards, and procedures that define the basis of financial accounting policies and practices.

Accounting Cycle

The accounting cycle is a collective process of identifying, analyzing, and recording the accounting events of a company. It is a standard 8-step process that begins when a transaction occurs and ends with its inclusion in the financial statements and the closing of the books.The key steps in the eight-step accounting cycle include recording journal entries, posting to the general ledger, calculating trial balances, making adjusting entries, and creating financial statements.

Accounting Policies

Accounting policies are the specific procedures implemented by a company's management team that are used to prepare its financial statements. These include any accounting methods, measurement systems, and procedures for presenting disclosures. Accounting policies differ from accounting principles in that the principles are the accounting rules, and the policies are a company's way of adhering to those rules.

Accountant Responsibility

Accountant responsibility is the ethical responsibility an accountant has to those who rely on their work. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), accountants have a duty to serve the public interest and uphold the public trust in the profession. An accountant has a responsibility to his clients, his company's managers, investors, and creditors, as well as to outside regulatory bodies. Accountants are responsible for the validity of the financial statements they work on, and they must perform their duties following all applicable principles, standards, and laws.

Accounting Principles

Accounting principles are the rules and guidelines that companies and other bodies must follow when reporting financial data. These rules make it easier to examine financial data by standardizing the terms and methods that accountants must use.The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the most widely used set of accounting principles, with adoption in 167 jurisdictions. The United States uses a separate set of accounting principles, known as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Accounting Profit

Accounting Profit, also known as Financial Profit or Book Profit, is the net income of a business for a specific accounting period, calculated according to accounting standards. It is derived by subtracting total expenses from total revenues and is typically reported in financial statements, particularly the income statement (profit and loss statement). Accounting profit includes all realized revenues and incurred expenses but excludes unrealized gains or potential losses. It reflects the financial performance and operational results of a business and is a crucial indicator for assessing profitability. Accounting profit differs from economic profit, which considers opportunity costs and implicit costs, whereas accounting profit is based solely on actual transactions recorded.

Accounting Theory

Accounting theory is a set of assumptions, frameworks, and methodologies used in the study and application of financial reporting principles. The study of accounting theory involves a review of both the historical foundations of accounting practices, as well as the way in which accounting practices are changed and added to the regulatory framework that governs financial statements and financial reporting.

Accounting Method

An accounting method refers to the rules a company follows in reporting revenues and expenses. The two primary methods of accounting are accrual accounting (generally used by companies) and cash accounting (generally used by individuals).Cash accounting reports revenues and expenses as they are received and paid through cash inflows and outflows; accrual accounting reports them as they are earned and incurred through sales and purchases on credit and by using accounts receivable & accounts payable. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires accrual accounting.

Accounting Ratio

An Accounting Ratio, also known as a Financial Ratio, is a ratio derived from data in financial statements used to analyze and assess a company's financial condition, operational efficiency, and profitability. Common accounting ratios include the current ratio, quick ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, gross profit margin, net profit margin, and return on assets. These ratios help investors, management, and other stakeholders understand the financial health and performance of a business. For example, the current ratio measures a company's short-term liquidity, while the net profit margin indicates its profitability. Accounting ratios are essential tools in financial analysis, aiding in making more informed investment and management decisions.

Exchange Rate Mechanism

The Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) is a system used to manage and regulate exchange rates between different countries' currencies. Its primary goal is to stabilize currencies by setting fluctuation bands, thereby preventing excessive volatility and promoting economic stability and international trade. The most well-known example is the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), which was part of the European Monetary System aimed at preparing for the introduction of the euro. Under this mechanism, exchange rates of member countries' currencies were allowed to fluctuate within a specified range. When exchange rates approached these limits, central banks of the respective countries would intervene to maintain stability. The ERM helps countries coordinate monetary policies and reduce exchange rate uncertainty, contributing to stable economic growth.