Abu Yahya's definitions
(ECONOMICS) Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other persons marginally attached to the labor force, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force. This includes workers who are not counted as "discouraged workers" for minor technical reasons. Therefore, if one wants to cite the percentage of discouraged unemployed, the true figure is U-5, not U-4.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly publishes six estimates of unemployment. The others are U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, and U-6. Eurostat publishes one monthly estimate of unemployment for the European Union, which is approximately midway between U-3 and U-4.
The unemployment statistics for the USA are collected through a monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) (also known as the household survey) and an establishment survey.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly publishes six estimates of unemployment. The others are U-1, U-2, U-3, U-4, and U-6. Eurostat publishes one monthly estimate of unemployment for the European Union, which is approximately midway between U-3 and U-4.
The unemployment statistics for the USA are collected through a monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) (also known as the household survey) and an establishment survey.
For economists, U-5 and U-6 can help provide some insight into labor market movements. In particular, the spread between U-5 and U-6 can show how quickly businesses are returning to normality after a recession, because it offers a way to gauge changes in the number of hours worked as well as in the number of workers hired.
by Abu Yahya July 15, 2010

(FINANCE) used to refer to an option that has no intrinsic value, given the prevailing spot price. The two obvious examples are the call option and the put option.
*If the strike price of a call option is greater than the current price (or "spot price") of the underlying stock, then there is no point in exercising the option.
*If the strike price of a put option is less than the spot price, then there is no point in exercising the option/
Please note that "having no intrinsic value" IS NOT THE SAME THING as "worthless." An option that is out of the money is not worthless, unless it is about to expire. Assuming there is a lot of time left on the option before it expires, there remains the possibility the spot price of the underlying item could move in a favorable direction, and make the option "in the money."
*If the strike price of a call option is greater than the current price (or "spot price") of the underlying stock, then there is no point in exercising the option.
*If the strike price of a put option is less than the spot price, then there is no point in exercising the option/
Please note that "having no intrinsic value" IS NOT THE SAME THING as "worthless." An option that is out of the money is not worthless, unless it is about to expire. Assuming there is a lot of time left on the option before it expires, there remains the possibility the spot price of the underlying item could move in a favorable direction, and make the option "in the money."
Buying a call option that is out of the money is a long position; buying a put option that is out of the money is a short position.
by Abu Yahya April 15, 2010

In economics, a policy in which the authorities insist on some permanent, precise guarantee of the value of the local currency to some other thing: a unit measure of gold, the US dollar, the euro, or the pound. Historically, the US dollar had a hard peg to gold from 1946 to 1971, while other currencies in the developed world had a hard peg to the US dollar. Since 1971, most of the world's money is in floating currency (whose relative value is set by the free market).
Nonetheless, advocates of hard pegs frequently downplay the ... difficulties of establishing greater nominal flexibility in fiscal spending and wages...
by abu yahya June 24, 2008

(ACCOUNTING) the total amount of money paid to a company during the period covered by a statement. For example, during a quarterly statement of cash flow, "cash flow" means the firm received payments or realized capital gains of that much money.
During the same period, the firm may have billed out (accounts receivable) a certain amount for which it has not received payment, and received payment on account for bills it made before the quarter began.
This is not the same as operating cash flow, which is revenue minus operating expenses.
During the same period, the firm may have billed out (accounts receivable) a certain amount for which it has not received payment, and received payment on account for bills it made before the quarter began.
This is not the same as operating cash flow, which is revenue minus operating expenses.
Over the course of a few months, the cash flow for a business is about the same as revenue, as payments will generally come in at about the same rate as the firm bills customers.
This NOT true for operating cash flow or net cash flow.
This NOT true for operating cash flow or net cash flow.
by Abu Yahya September 20, 2010

(US HISTORY) federally chartered bank. In 1863, the US Congress passed the National Bank Act that empowered banks with federal charters to issue currency backed by US Treasury securities.
National bank notes were issued until 1935; after 1928, they looked exactly the same as "national notes," or paper money circulated by the US Treasury.
(The US Treasury stopped issuing banknotes in 1971. Such notes were distinguished from federal reserve notes by a red seal and the absence of the legend, "federal reserve note" at the top of the bill).
National bank notes were issued until 1935; after 1928, they looked exactly the same as "national notes," or paper money circulated by the US Treasury.
(The US Treasury stopped issuing banknotes in 1971. Such notes were distinguished from federal reserve notes by a red seal and the absence of the legend, "federal reserve note" at the top of the bill).
Any national bank could issue currency equal in value to 90% of US treasury securities that it had on deposity with the Treasury. National bank notes initially had their own distinctive engraving, but after 1928 were visually almost indistinguishable from federal reserve notes.
by Abu Yahya May 5, 2010

A choice between an alternative that is awful and one that is unacceptable. Usually defined as "no choice at all," since one of the choices is likely to be totally unacceptable (death, starvation, death of a loved one held hostage, insolvency).
A person whose relatives have been taken hostage is faced with the Hobson's choice of rewarding someone who attacked his family, and having his relatives killed because of decisions he made.
by Abu Yahya May 5, 2010

(FINANCE) when somebody buys a corporation using borrowed money ("leverage"), with the expectation that the new owner will able to pay for it from the corporation's own profits.
Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts (KKR) developed the LBO back when Jerome Kohlberg, Jr. and Henry Kravis were still partners at Bear Stearns (1960's). The technique was refined by Michael Milken's methods of underwriting and trading junk bonds. At the same time, corporate raiders and takeover artists like T. Boone Pickens perfected greenmail as a way to make money from failed hostile takeovers.
Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts (KKR) developed the LBO back when Jerome Kohlberg, Jr. and Henry Kravis were still partners at Bear Stearns (1960's). The technique was refined by Michael Milken's methods of underwriting and trading junk bonds. At the same time, corporate raiders and takeover artists like T. Boone Pickens perfected greenmail as a way to make money from failed hostile takeovers.
In constant US dollars, the largest leveraged buyout deal in history was the KKR takeover of RJR Nabisbo for $31.1 billion (1989). In 2006, several deals of even larger size were planned or attempted, but adjusted for inflation, they were not as large.
by Abu Yahya September 4, 2010
