Financial Dictionary
Investing Glossary
Plain-English definitions of financial terms — from Amortisation to Zero-Coupon Bonds.
Bear Market Beginner
A period when stock prices fall 20% or more from recent highs, usually accompanied by widespread pessimism about the economy.
Beta Advanced
A measure of a stock's volatility relative to the overall market. A beta above 1 means the stock is more volatile than the market; below 1 means less.
Blue Chip Stock Beginner
Shares of large, well-established, financially sound companies with a history of reliable performance, such as market leaders in their sector.
Bond Yield Intermediate
The return an investor earns on a bond, expressed as a percentage of its price. Yields move inversely to bond prices — when prices fall, yields rise.
Book Value Intermediate
A company's total assets minus its total liabilities, representing the net worth attributable to shareholders if the company were liquidated.
Bull Market Beginner
A period of rising stock prices, typically 20% or more from recent lows, usually accompanied by investor optimism.