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Glossary
Please find a glossary of useful Share Dealing terms below.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
| A |
Advisory broker
An advisory broker advises (and executes) buy and sell decisions on behalf of the client. However, the final decision to buy and sell always rests with the client. Halifax Share Dealing is an execution-only stock broker.
AIM stocks
Alternative Investment Market (AIM) stocks are smaller and growing companies which began trading in June 1995.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
An annual meeting called by the directors of a company that allow shareholders to stay informed and involved with company decisions and workings.
Average Price
The transaction was effected at a price based on a volume weighted average price over a given period.
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| B |
Best bid
The highest bid price for a specific tradable instrument (i.e. the highest price any buyer has declared that they are willing to pay for a specific security at a given time). Determined by the current quotes and orders in the trading system
Best offer
The lowest offer price for a specific tradable instrument (i.e. the lowest price any seller has declared that they are willing to accept for a specific security at a given time). Determined by the current quotes and orders in the trading system.
Bid price
The price at which a market participant is bidding to buy shares.
Bidding Company (in a Takeover) The company that is planning to acquire another company.
Blue chip
A term used to describe large, well-known companies that offer stable earnings and consistent dividend record. Blue-chip companies are reputed to be reliable investments.
Bonds
Debt securities issued by governments and companies as a means of raising capita lwhich generally entitle the holder to a fixed-rate of interest during their life and repayment of the amount of the bond at maturity.
Bonus issue
The issue by a company of new shares which do not require any payment to be made by the shareholder. This has the effect of making the company's shares more marketable because of the increased number available and the lower market price.
Broker/Dealer
An Exchange member firm, which provides advice and dealing services to the public and can deal on its own account
| C |
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
The tax an individual is liable to on realised capital gains which accrue in a year of assessment during any part of which the individual is resident in the UK. ISA's are free from CGT
Cash Management Account (HCMA)
The Halifax Cash Management Account works like a deposit account. When you buy or sell shares, money is either withdrawn from, or credited to, the account.
CREST Depositary Interests (CDIs)
These are UK securities representing an underlying interest in an overseas security. They are issued on a one-for-one basis. Because CDIs are UK securities, you can receive dividends in sterling and can buy or sell CDIs easily in the UK.
Certificates
Certificates are the traditional way of holding shares and means your shares will be in paper format.
CFDs
A Contract for Difference (or CFD) is a contract between two parties, buyer and seller, stipulating that the seller will pay to the buyer the difference between the current value of an asset and its value at contract time. (If the difference is negative, then the buyer pays instead to the seller.) For example, when applied to equities, such a contract is an equity that allows investors to speculate on share price movements, without the need for ownership of the underlying shares
Change
The difference between the previous day's closing price and the most recent price of a security.
Closing Price
The closing price is the last price for a tradable instrument at the time the market closes. For SETS, the closing trade price is the uncrossing trade price at which orders execute during an auction, or a Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP). For AIM listed securities the closing price is the best bid, offer and mid price calculated from market maker quotes at the end of the mandatory quote period.
Commission
Commission is the charge made by the brokers who buy and sell shares on your behalf. The commission charge is usually based on the value of the shares being bought and sold
Corporate Bonds
Corporate bonds are debt securities issued by private and public organisations
Covered warrant
A security issued by a party other than the issuer or originator of the underlying asset, giving the holder the right (but not an obligation) to acquire a share or bond at a specific price and date.
CREST
The paperless share settlement system through which trades executed on the Exchange's markets (and elsewhere) can be settled. CREST is operated by CRESTCo, and was introduced in 1996. See Settlement.
| D |
Daily change
The daily change in the price of a security, i.e. the difference between the most recent price of a security and the previous day's closing price
Diversification
The process of investing across a range of investments in order to diversify (or minimise risk). As a result, if one investment performs poorly, better performance from the rest of the portfolio helps to reduce the risk of loss.
Dividend
That part of a company's profits after tax which is distributed to shareholders - usually expressed in pence per share. Also see Scrip Issue.
| E |
Equity
The risk-sharing part of a company's capital, usually made up of ordinary shares.
Equity option
Equity options give the option buyer the right to buy or sell shares of companies. The standard LIFFE contract size for equity options is 100 or 1000 shares.
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)
A collective investment vehicles which track indices - they can allow low cost exposure to the performance of an index as quickly and efficiently as the most liquid UK stocks
Execution only
An execution only broker buys and sells shares on the instructions of the client. Halifax Share Dealing is an execution only broker.
Exercise
The process of using the right to buy or sell the underlying at the specified price.
Exercise price
The exercise (or strike) price is the price at which the option can be exercised, regardless of the actual market price of the stock.
| F |
Financial Services Authority (FSA)
An independent body which regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
Financial year
The year for which corporate tax rates apply. It runs from April 1 of one year to March 31 of the next year.
FTSE 100
The index of the top one hundred companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
FTSE 250
The index of the top 250 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Fund
A fund is a collective investment scheme where money is pooled, which is invested in a portfolio of securities with a common investment purpose. OEICs and Unit Trusts are examples of funds.
Fund manager
A fund manager is a professional who decides how fund money is invested (see Fund).
Futures
A futures contract is an agreement or obligation to buy or sell a given quantity of a particular security, at a specified future date at a pre-determined price.
| G |
Gearing
Gearing is a feature of leveraged instruments such as covered warrants, options and futures. In an option, by investing a small amount called the option premium, investors can multiply their gains since returns are magnified
Gilts
A Gilt is a bond issued by the government.
Going short
Selling futures involves a commitment to sell the underlying asset at a future date at a specified price. This is called going short.
Gross
The total amount before deductions (e.g. before tax deductions).
| H |
Hedge
A hedge is typically accomplished by making approximately offsetting transactions that will largely eliminate one or more types of risk. Hedging Investors can use derivatives and covered warrants to hedge investments. For instance, if an investor owns a particular stock, he or she can neutralize the impact of an impending fall in price by buying a put option, selling futures or buying a put warrant.
High
The highest price that a security traded at during a certain time period.
| I |
Index
A statistical measure of the changes in a portfolio of stocks representing a portion of the overall market. For instance, the FTSE 100 and the S&P500 are examples of indices.
Indicative Quote
A quote whose price and volume are not guaranteed. That is, market participants are not obliged to deal at the displayed prices or volumes, when their quotes are indicative. Indicative quotes are displayed during the pre-mandatory quote period.
Individual Savings Account (ISA)
An ISA is a tax efficient savings account.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
Also known as flotation, it is the company’s first offer of shares in the stock market. The shares may be offered at face value or at a premium. Also see Offer for sale
Issuer
Any company or other legal person or undertaking (including a public sector issuer) any class of whose securities has been admitted or is, or is proposed to be, the subject of an application for admission to trading.
| J |
| K |
| L |
Limited company
A limited company is privately owned with less than 50 shareholders having limited liability. Nearly all newly formed companies in the UK are incorporated as limited companies.
Liquidation
When a company becomes insolvent, it may go into liquidation, wherein all its assets are sold and the proceeds are distributed among the debtors and shareholders, in that order.
Listed company
A company whose securities have been admitted to the UKLA’s Official List and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange.
| M |
Margin
An account with a broker where a client is able to purchase securities on credit after the margin has been deposited.
Market Abuse
The Market Abuse Directive adopted by the UK on 1st July 2005 expressly prohibits insider dealing, market manipulation and misleading behaviour. Making statements or spreading rumours through the mass media or otherwise (e.g. internet chat rooms) which give or are likely to give a regular user of the stockmarket false or misleading impressions as to the supply of or demand for a listed share, can be a criminal offence.
Market price
The price of a security. For shares, there are two prices quoted on the exchange – bid price and offer price.
Maturity period
This is the life of a bond or security.
Mergers
In a merger, two companies come together to become one. The shareholders of the merging companies often become joint owners of the combined entity.
Mid price
A price between the offer and bid price. The mid price is equal to the sum of the best bid price and the best offer price divided by two, and rounded up to be consistent with the relevant price format.
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID)
MiFID introduced new and more extensive requirements that firms have to adapt to, in particular for their conduct of business and internal organisation
Money laundering
The process of disguising money obtained from criminal activity.
| N |
Net
The amount remaining after deductions (e.g. after tax adjustments have been made).
Nominated Adviser (NOMAD)
Exchange-approved adviser for AIM companies. AIM companies must retain a nominated adviser at all times.
Nominee account (Halifax Share Dealing account)
A nominee account is where we hold your assets on your behalf. The shares you buy are registered in our name but you retain ownership of them. There is also less paperwork and you don't have to worry about losing your share certificates.
NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the world’s largest stock exchange, with a combined market capitalisation of £6 trillion in 2002.
| O |
OEICs
An Open-Ended Investment Company (OEIC) is a type of collective investment scheme, similar to a unit trust except that an OEIC is incorporated as a seperate legal entity and issues shares rather than units.
Ordinary shares
The most common form of share. Holders may receive dividends in line with the company's profitability and recommendation of its directors.
| P |
PEP
On 6 April 2008 the Government turned all PEPs into ISAs.
Preference shares
These are normally fixed-income shares whose shareholders have the right to receive dividends before ordinary shareholders would rank above ordinary shareholders for the repayment of their investment in the company.
Prospectus
When a company applies for a listing of its securities which are to be offered to the public in the UK, a prospectus is required in accordance with the UKLA’s Listing Rules, detailing information on the company, its accounts, directors and its securities.
Public limited company (plc)
A company whose shares may be purchased by the public and whose share capital is not less than a statutory minimum. Not all plcs are listed companies
| Q |
Quote
An offer to buy or sell a quote driven security. Quotes are displayed by market makers that are registered in that security.
| R |
Rights issue
An invitation to existing shareholders to purchase additional shares in the company.
Risk
Risk is the probability that the actual return of an investment will be different from the expected return. Higher the risk, higher will be the probability of gain or loss on the investment.
| S |
Scrip dividend
An issue of shares available to shareholders that replaces a dividend payment. Shareholders have the option to forgo their dividend for the share alternative.
Scrip issue
The issue by a company of new shares which do not require any payment to be made by the shareholder. This has the effect of making the company's shares more marketable because of the increased number available and the lower market price.
Securities
Securities are the generic term for Shares and Bonds.
Settlement
Settlement, or the settlement date is when your trade is completed. It is the day your receive your money from sales or pay for shares you have bought. Settlement is usually three working days after you bought or sold the shares if you hold them electronically in our nominee account, or 10 working days after you bought or sold the shares if you have certificate shares, on paper
SIPP
SIPP's or Self Invested Personal Pensions are designed for you to take full control of your pension. Once a SIPP is funded, there is a wide variety of investment options for you including funds, unit trusts, Open Ended Investment Companies (OEICS) and UK shares. Once the SIPP is funded, you are not able to withdraw from it until you are 50 (55 from 2010)
Share
The authorised share capital of a company is divided into a number of equal parts. Each part is called a share.
Stock
A general term that can cover shares, gilts and corporate bonds.
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is where stocks and shares are bought and sold.
Stock Exchange Daily Official List code (SEDOL)
A 7 digit alphanumeric reference for a listed security.
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| T |
Takeover
The acquisition of one business or company by another.
Trade
A trade is a deal made on the London Stock Exchange. Sometimes referred to as a 'bargain'.
Trust
A fiduciary relationship that empowers one or more people (trustees) to safeguard and administer the assets (money or property) of the beneficiaries or investors.
T+ 3
This means the settlement date will be three working days after the trading date. For example, if you sell £1,000 of shares on Monday 1 June and settlement is T+3, you'll receive the £1,000 three working days later on Thursday 4 June.
| U |
Underlying asset
The value of a derivative instrument depends on the performance of the underlying asset or security. These may be commodity derivatives such as gold, sugar, jute, pepper, iced broilers or coffee. They could also be financial in nature such as stocks, bonds, gilts, currencies and money market instruments.
Unit Trusts
A unit trust is a portfolio of holdings in various companies. This is divided into units and managed by professionals.
| V |
Volatility
A measure of the amount of movement in the price of an instrument.
Voting rights
The entitlement of ordinary shareholders to vote in person or by proxy at annual meetings or annual general meetings.
VWAP (Volume weighted average price)
Volume weighted average price (VWAP), which is calculated by dividing the value of trades by the volume over a given period. A closing 10 minute VWAP is used to set closing prices on the order book.
| W |
Warrant
A Warrant is a tradable security providing the holder with the right to buy specific shares at a set price on a future date.
| X |
| Y |
Yield
The return earned on an investment taking into account the annual income and its present capital value. There are a number of different types of yield, and in some cases different methods of calculating each type.
| Z |
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