Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.

Category: Finance Dictionary

RETROSPECTIVE AGGREGATE LOSS COVER

An insurance policy that covers existing and incurred but not yet reported losses up to a dollar amount. Refer to loss portfolio transfer and retrospective finite policy.

REVERSE MORTGAGE

When a lender gives monthly payments to a borrower using their property equity. This is usually done by elderly homeowners resulting in the borrower eventually owning the home.

RISK MANAGEMENT

A decision guided by cost/benefit analysis made by a firm to control, retain, eliminate, or expand its risks. Refer to risk identification, risk monitoring, and risk quantification.

ROADSHOW

Presentations organized by a firm introducing a new issue of securities to possible investors. AKA dog and pony show.

SCORCHED EARTH DEFENSES

The attempt of a takeover target to make itself look undesirable by threatening to liquidate or destroy assets in the event of a hostile takeover. Refer to crown jewel defense, dead hand

SELLOUT

Liquidating a loan or derivative when a payment is not recieved. This causes contract or loan cancellation.

SHORT ARBITRAGE

When the futures rate is lower than the forward rate. This means the cash market is underpriced and the asset is bought while selling the futures. Refer to long arbitrage.

SIZE

Assets or securities that are offered in a large quantity or a change in an assets position.

SPREAD

A strategy whereby several financial factors combine to expose or protect the price of a commodity. Refer to bull spread, bear spread, effective spread, quoted spread, and realized spread.

STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

A contract where additional shares of a target will not be purchased by a raider or acquiring firm until a mutual agreement can be accomplished.

SWINGLINE

Short term back up credit given to a borrower as needed. They are used when commercial paper issuers when investors won’t roll over maturing paper. AKA backup line.

TAP ISSUE

UK government bills sold to their own entities. No gilt edge market makers are used.

THIN MARKET

A market that is illiquid. It has low volume, high spreads, and high volatility. Refer to tight market.

TREYNOR INDEX

Comparing the risk premium and risk of a portfolio. It uses the security market line as the benchmark.

UNDERBANKED

A new issue with little interest in it. The price and deal terms must be changed in order to change this.

UP AND OUT OPTION

An option that ends an european option if the price goes beyond a barrier. If the barrier is not crossed the european option is safe. Refer to down and in, down and

VISIBLE

Any good brought into or shipped out of a country. A key element in balance of trade or balance of payment accounts. Refer to invisible.

WHISPER STOCK

Stock of a target company of hostile takeover. Price and volume will be erratic due to the rumor.

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