A measurable standard that expresses the amount of energy, work, goods or services a process should produce in a given period.

The delegation of non-core activities to outside agencies and contractors. Called contracting out, this allows businesses to benefit from specialist skill sets without paying for an in-house team, and it enables companies

1. UK: In the absence of a US-style OTC market, unlisted securities are traded through the London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) Alternative Investment Market. 2. US: The largest securities market in the US.

An individual whose insurance coverage is worth more than the item(s) being insured.

1. Products, services, work or energy that is produced by a company, machine or individual in a given period. 2. Computing: Information suitable for transmission from a computer to external devices; transferring

Credit balance in a factory overhead account, caused by over-estimating the cost of overheads in a given period.

1. A statistical data point that lies outside of normal distribution. 2. A person who lives or works far from major conurbations.

Purchase agreement that obligates a buyer to purchase (at fixed prices) everything a supplier produces during a fixed period.

The practice of selling more tickets for a flight or concert than can be accommodated, to avoid empty seats caused by ?no-shows?.

This method is used to determine whether specific security prices are moving too much in one direction or the other.

1. Loan arrangement that enables individuals or businesses to borrow up to an agreed limit without prior approval. Overdrafts can be paid off at any time and interest is charged on the

This occurs when the value of a securing asset is far greater than the debt principal.

1. Retailing: A drug or medication that does not require a doctor’s prescription. 2. Securities: Unlisted US securities (usually unlisted because the issuer does not meet the exchange?s requirements).

A patient who does not reside in a hospital, but who travels to hospital to receive treatment.

1. A resource that is used up during a process, that is not part of the finished product. 2. Accounting: An expenditure or cost that (1) is related to either a specific

The value of an investment portfolio after liabilities have been deducted from revenue earned.

Applying an amount of overhead costs that reflects the expense of producing goods or services.

Paying more into a tax deductible retirement plan than is permitted for a given period of time. Usually, this results in a penalty to the contributor.

Occurs when expenditure exceeds the budgeted amount.

Interest calculated based on a hypothetical year of 360 days.