Abu Yahya's definitions
(FINANCE) a financial instrument whose value is tied to something else; for example,
* a futures contract (future)
* an option
* a swap
In each of these examples, the value of the derivative is related in some way to the price of something else. When the market price of (say) an ounce of gold goes from $1000/oz to $1050/oz, the return to the owner of 1 oz. of actual gold is 5%. But for the owner of a call option or a future, the return is much, much greater than that.
A derivative can be used to multiply risk AND potential profits to speculators; but it can be used for the counterparty to minimize risk by locking in prices, or by hedging against risk.
* a futures contract (future)
* an option
* a swap
In each of these examples, the value of the derivative is related in some way to the price of something else. When the market price of (say) an ounce of gold goes from $1000/oz to $1050/oz, the return to the owner of 1 oz. of actual gold is 5%. But for the owner of a call option or a future, the return is much, much greater than that.
A derivative can be used to multiply risk AND potential profits to speculators; but it can be used for the counterparty to minimize risk by locking in prices, or by hedging against risk.
by Abu Yahya April 5, 2010
Get the financial derivativemug. *noun*; one of the factors of production. Fixed capital refers to physical objects used to produce goods or services. Examples include cash registers, drill presses or car jacks, and civil aircraft.
Pretty much anything can be used as fixed capital, provided it is used by the entrepreneur/firm to provide a service or produce something valuable. If the firm is a hotel, then pillows and vacuum cleaners are fixed capital; if it's a store, then the cash register, the shelves, and the mop are fixed capital.
Another form of business capital is circulating capital. This is called capital because it's a physical object used to produce value, but its purpose is to be sold or used up in production.
Pretty much anything can be used as fixed capital, provided it is used by the entrepreneur/firm to provide a service or produce something valuable. If the firm is a hotel, then pillows and vacuum cleaners are fixed capital; if it's a store, then the cash register, the shelves, and the mop are fixed capital.
Another form of business capital is circulating capital. This is called capital because it's a physical object used to produce value, but its purpose is to be sold or used up in production.
Some part of the capital of every master artificer or manufacturer must be fixed in the instruments of his trade...In other works a much greater fixed capital is required. In a great iron-work, for example, the furnace for melting the ore, the forge, the slitt-mill, are instruments of trade which cannot be erected without a very great expense.
Adam Smith, *The Wealth of Nations* (1776)
Adam Smith, *The Wealth of Nations* (1776)
by Abu Yahya March 3, 2009
Get the fixed capitalmug. (FINANCE) a contractual obligation to buy or sell a fixed amount of a thing at a set price, at a specific time in the future.
Same as a futures contract.
Same as a futures contract.
SALES AGENT: I have this awesome product made in the USA I want to sell in Europe. It's cheap now, but what if the euro goes down against the dollar? I could lose a lot of money on inventory.
BROKER: No problem, just buy a future for the amount of US dollars you'll need to pay your suppliers.
SALES AGENT: You mean, a futures contract for dollars?
BROKER: Yes, a euro-pegged future for dollars. When the contract comes due, you pay the euros, they pay you the dollars, and BOOM! You're good to go. No risk.
BROKER: No problem, just buy a future for the amount of US dollars you'll need to pay your suppliers.
SALES AGENT: You mean, a futures contract for dollars?
BROKER: Yes, a euro-pegged future for dollars. When the contract comes due, you pay the euros, they pay you the dollars, and BOOM! You're good to go. No risk.
by Abu Yahya April 5, 2010
Get the futuremug. (ECONOMICS) the difference between the nominal interest rate and the rate of inflation; the actual premium charged by banks for lendable funds.
The real interest rate can be determined by subtracting the annualized rate of inflation from the prime rate offered by banks to borrowers with the best credit.
During the 1970's, the USA experienced relatively high inflation (peaking at 17% in January 1980). In some months this exceeded the prime rate, resulting in negative interest rates for short periods (e.g., April-October, 1978; Feb-July, 1979).
One problem of deflation (i.e., falling absolute prices) is that it always occurs when the economy is in VERY severe recession, and there is no way the central bank can reduce the real interest rate to zero, since 0% nominal rates minus negative inflation = positive real interest rates.
The real interest rate can be determined by subtracting the annualized rate of inflation from the prime rate offered by banks to borrowers with the best credit.
During the 1970's, the USA experienced relatively high inflation (peaking at 17% in January 1980). In some months this exceeded the prime rate, resulting in negative interest rates for short periods (e.g., April-October, 1978; Feb-July, 1979).
One problem of deflation (i.e., falling absolute prices) is that it always occurs when the economy is in VERY severe recession, and there is no way the central bank can reduce the real interest rate to zero, since 0% nominal rates minus negative inflation = positive real interest rates.
During the period 1978 to 1980, there were 14 (out of a total of 36) months during which the real interest rate was negative.
by Abu Yahya September 6, 2010
Get the real interest ratemug. German, *noun*: "foundation"; a type of business organization dating from the late 19th century in which one or more companies are owned by a foundation. The foundation, in turn, is governed not by shareholders, but by whomever is chartered as a stakeholder in the firm, such as workers, financial planners, local residents of the town where the firm operates, and so on.
The biggest company owned by a foundation is Robert Bosch GmBH, which is 92% owned by Robert Bosch Stiftung (Stuttgart, Germany). Bertelsmann AG (Guetersloh, Germany) is owned by the Bertelsmann-Stiftung, which appears to possess the largest endowment of any German foundation; the affiliated company owns an enormous media empire.
Plural: Stiftungen
The biggest company owned by a foundation is Robert Bosch GmBH, which is 92% owned by Robert Bosch Stiftung (Stuttgart, Germany). Bertelsmann AG (Guetersloh, Germany) is owned by the Bertelsmann-Stiftung, which appears to possess the largest endowment of any German foundation; the affiliated company owns an enormous media empire.
Plural: Stiftungen
The prevalence of the *Stiftung* in German industry probably contributed to the excellence of German manufactures, since the affiliated companies were managed by engineers.
by Abu Yahya February 23, 2009
Get the Stiftungmug. (FINANCE) a bond issued by the US Department of the Treasury. Unlike longer-term bonds, with regular scheduled interest payments, a T-bill is purely discounted. In other words, the lender--the person buying the bond--pays a price lower than the face value of the bond. When the bond matures (after, say, 91 days), then the buyer is paid the face value.
The yield on the T-bill is usually very low; for example, yesterday 13-week T-bill rates were 4.01%. Their price is set at auction.
The yield on the T-bill is usually very low; for example, yesterday 13-week T-bill rates were 4.01%. Their price is set at auction.
People usually suppose that the Federal Reserve System sets interest rates, but this only applies to the federal funds rate. The rates on other treasury securities, like T-bills, are set by auction.
by Abu Yahya May 14, 2010
Get the T-billmug. (STATISTICS) a range of values for which you are x percent confident contains the correct answer. Answers to a statistical question which are ranged from the lowest likely value to the highest; answers outside of this range are highly unlikely.
Presupposes that you are estimating a value based on sample data, and the sample data has a genuinely random variance.
Usually the confidence interval is for a 95% confidence, meaning there is only a 5% probability that the true value is OUTSIDE the interval.
Presupposes that you are estimating a value based on sample data, and the sample data has a genuinely random variance.
Usually the confidence interval is for a 95% confidence, meaning there is only a 5% probability that the true value is OUTSIDE the interval.
ANNA: I've been driving your car for about a month.
JAMES: And what you think is the MPG?
ANNA: It's probably about 25 MPG, with a 95% confidence interval of 19.5 to 32 MPG.
JAMES: Holy cow! Any Prussians in your family tree?
JAMES: And what you think is the MPG?
ANNA: It's probably about 25 MPG, with a 95% confidence interval of 19.5 to 32 MPG.
JAMES: Holy cow! Any Prussians in your family tree?
by Abu Yahya April 23, 2010
Get the confidence intervalmug.