Bank
Rate The rate of interest charged by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) on financial accommodation extended to banks and FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS. The support is provided in the form of a bills rediscounting
facility and advances or REFINANCE against specified ASSETS (e.g. TREASURY
BILLS and DATED SECURITIES) or PROMISSORY NOTES.
Bear A person who expects share prices in general to decline and who is likely to indulge in SHORT SALES.
Bond A long-term debt instrument on which the issuer pays interest periodically, known as 'Coupon'. Bonds are secured by COLLATERAL in the form of immovable property. While generally, bonds have a definite MATURITY, 'Perpetual Bonds' are securities without any maturity. In the U.S., the term DEBENTURES refers to long-term debt instruments which are not secured by specific collateral, so as to distinguish them from bonds
Bonus Shares The issue of shares to the shareholders of a company, by capitalizing a part of the company's reserves. The decision to issue bonus shares, or stock DIVIDEND as in the U.S., may be in response to the need to signal an affirmation to the expectations of shareholders that the prospects of the company are bright; or it may be with the motive of bringing down the share price in absolute terms, in order to ensure continuing investor interest. Following a bonus issue, though the number of total shares increases, the proportional ownership of shareholders does not change. The magnitude of a bonus issue is determined by taking into account certain rules, laid down for the purpose. For example, the issue can be made out of free reserves created by genuine profits or by share PREMIUM collected in cash only. Also, the residual reserves, after the proposed capitalization, must be at least 40 percent of the increased PAID-UP CAPITAL. These and other guidelines must be satisfied by a company that is considering a bonus issue
Book Value It is the amount of NET ASSETS that would be available per EQUITY SHARE, after a company pays off all LIABILITES including PREFERENCE SHARES from the sale proceeds of all its ASSETS liquidated at BALANCE SHEET values.
Break-even Point The point where the revenues from a business operation equal the total costs (FIXED COSTS = VARIABLE COSTS). Thus, a profit accrues when revenues exceed the break-even point. The break-even volume is computed by dividing the fixed costs (FC) by the difference between the selling price per unit (SP) and variable cost per unit (VC). For instance, if FC is Rs.4,000, VC is Rs.60 and SP is Rs.85, the break-even volume is 4,000/(85-60) = 160 units of output.
Budget A financial plan that projects receipts and payments of an entity covering a specific period of time, usually one year. Its primary purpose is to achieve financial control. Budgets could be distinguished on the basis of time span, function and flexibility. For instance, budgets may be short-term or long-term; similarly, there are Sales Budgets, Cash Budgets, Capital Expenditure Budgets and other to cover different functions.
Bull A person who expects share prices in general to move up and who is likely to take a long position in the stock market.
Capital Adequacy Ratio A requirement imposed on banks to have a certain amount of capital in relation to their ASSETS, i.e., loans and investments as a cushion against probable losses in investments and loans. In simple terms, this means that for every Rs.100 of risk-weighted assets, a bank must have Rs. X in the form of capital. Capital is classified into Tier I or Tier II. Tier I comprises share capital and disclosed reserves, whereas Tier II includes revaluation reserves, hybrid capital and subordinated debt. Further, Tier II capital should not exceed Tier I capital. The risk weightage depends upon the type of assets. For example, it is zero on government guaranteed assets, 20 percent on short-term bank claims on 100 percent on private sector loans. (Risk weights on GOVERNMENT SECURITIES are being introduced.) The capital adequacy ratio is percentage of total capital funds to the total risk-weighted asset
Capital Reserves The reserves created in certain ways, that include the sale of FIXED ASSETS at a profit. These amounts are regarded as not available for distribution as DIVIDENDS.
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) A legal obligation on all SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL banks excluding REGIONAL RURAL BANKS to maintain certain reserves in the form of cash with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The reserves, to be maintained over a fortnight, are computed as a percentage of a bank's net demand and time LIABILITIES. Banks earn interest on eligible cash balances thus maintained and it contributes to their profitability. However, such interest payment tends to attenuate monetary control, and hence these outflows need to be moderated if the situation so demands. An alternative that has been suggested is to fix a lower level of reserves and pay a modest interest.
Commercial Paper (CP) A short-term, unsecured PROMISSORY NOTE issued by BLUE CHIP companies. Like other MONEY MARKET instruments, it is issued at a DISCOUNT on the FACE VALUE and is freely marketable. Commercial Paper may be issued to any person including individuals, banks and companies. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has laid down certain conditions regarding issue of CPs. The issuing company must have a certain minimum tangible NET WORTH, working capital limit, asset classification, etc. and the paper must have a CREDIT RATING of P2, A2 or PR-2. Moreover, the rating must not be over two months old at the time of issue. From November 1996, the extent of CP that can be issued by all eligible corporates has been raised to 100 percent of the working capital credit limit. As for restoration of the limit consequent on redemption of CP, banks have been given freedom to decide on the manner of doing so.
Commodity Futures A standardized contract guaranteeing delivery of a certain quantity of a commodity (such as wheat, soybeans, sugar or copper) on a specified future date, at a price agreed to, at the time of the transaction. These contracts are standardized in terms of quantity, quality and delivery months for different commodities. Contracts on certain commodities such as pepper and coffee are already traded in India. Moreover, the Kabra Committee in 1994 recommended that futures trading be permitted in several other commodities including rice, cotton, Soya bean and castor oil. Further, in an interesting development, a committee appointed by the Reserve Bank of India under the chairmanship of R.V. Gupta has recommended that Indian corporates be allowed to hedge in offshore futures and OPTIONS markets in a phased manner. The committee submitted its report in November 1997.
Cost of Capital The weighted average cost for long-term funds raised by a company from different sources such as term loans, DEBENTURES/BONDS, PREFERENCE SHARES, EQUITY SHARES and retained earnings.
Cost of Goods Sold Alternatively called the Cost of Sales, it is the sum of total input costs associated with a certain quantity of goods sold. The total input costs include materials used, direct and indirect labour, utilities, and other manufacturing expenses including DEPRECIATION.
Coupon Rate It is the rate of annual interest on the PAR VALUE of DEBENTURES or BONDS that an issuer promises to pay. In India, till a few years ago, coupon rates were subject to a ceiling stipulated by the Controller of Capital Issues. With the removal of the ceiling, issuers have fixed their coupon rates by taking into consideration, market perceptions and expectations. The rate may be fixed or it may be floating in relation to some benchmark.
Credit Rating The exercise of assessing the credit record, integrity and capability of a prospective borrower to meet debt obligations. Credit rating relates to companies, individuals and even countries. In the case of a company's debt instrument, such formal evaluation with the aid of quantitative and qualitative criteria, culminates in the assignment of a letter rating to the security. The instrument could be a DEBENTURE, FIXED DEPOSIT OR COMMERCIAL PAPER. The rating represents in rating agency's opinion at that time on the relative safety of timely payment of interest and principal associated with the particular debt obligation. This opinion rests on the agency's assessment of the willingness and capability of the issuer to meet the debt obligations. The methodology is to examine key factors like the business, the management, regulatory environment, competition and fundamental aspects including the financial position. A high credit rating can help in reducing the interest cost and also facilitate placement of the debt security. The rating agencies in India are Credit Rating and Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL), ICRA, and Credit Analysis and Research (CARE)
Cross Currency Option An instrument that confers a contractual right on the purchaser of the OPTION to buy (call) or sell (put) a currency against another currency, e.g., Yen for U.S. dollar. For this privilege, the purchaser pays a cost termed PREMIUM. Incidentally, the terminology applicable to cross currency options is similar to the one for stock options. For instance, the STRIKE PRICE is the contracted exchange rate at which the option buyer buys or sells a currency. The advantages with a cross currency option, (introduced in India in January 1994) as compared to forward and futures deals are that the option buyer is under no obligation to exercise the right; moreover, the maximum possible loss, it at all, becomes known to the option buyer at the outset. Thus, when the direction of a currency's movement is uncertain, a cross currency option may be preferable to a FORWARD CONTRACT.
Current Assets The assets which are expected to be converted into cash or consumed during the 'Operating Cycle' of a business. The operating cycle is the time taken for the sequence of events from the purchase of raw materials to the collection of cash from customers for goods sold. Hence, it is also known as the 'Cash Conversion Cycle'. However, if raw materials are bought on credit, then the cash conversion cycle is shorter than the operating cycle by the period of credit available. Examples of current assets are cash, short-term investments particularly MONEY MARKET securities, raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
Current Liabilities The claims against a company that will become due within a year. These are mainly LIABILITIES on account of purchase of materials or services rendered to the firm. Examples include accounts and PROMISSORY NOTES payable, as well as taxes and loan repayments falling due within the year. Current Ratio This ratio is a measure of a company's ability to pay its short-term debts as they become due. It is computed from a BALANCE SHEET by dividing CURRENT ASSETS by CURRENT LIABILITIES. In India, the general norms for this liquidity ratio is 1.33 Debenture A debt security issued by companies, having a certain MATURITY and bearing a stated COUPON RATE. Debentures may be unsecured or secured by ASSETS such as land and building of the issuing company. Debenture holders have a prior claim on the earnings (coupon) and ASSETS in the event of liquidation, as compared to PREFERENCE and equity shareholders.
Deflation A phenomenon of falling prices in an economy, which may be due to a contraction in MONEY SUPPLY.
Depreciation An accounting process by which the cost of a FIXED ASSET, such as a building or machinery, is allocated as a periodic expense, spread over the depreciable life of the ASSET. The term also means the amount of expense determined by such a process. Sometimes, it is called AMORTIZATION when the ASSET is intangible or 'depletion' when the asset is a natural resource, such as minerals. There are different methods of depreciation such as the Straight Line Method and the Written Down Value (WDV) method
Depression An economic condition that is characterized by a severe contraction in economic activity, which is manifested. In numerous business shut-downs, widespread unemployment, and declining investment in plant and equipment on account of falling sales.
Derivative A financial contract that derives its value from another ASSET or an index of asset values. These underlying assets maybe foreign exchange, BONDS, equities or commodities. For example, FORWARD CONTRACTS relate to foreign exchange; futures to commodities, debt instruments, currencies or stock indices; and OPTIONS to equities. Derivatives are traded at organized exchanges and in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.
Devaluation The lowering of a country's official exchange rate in relation to a foreign currency (or to gold), so that exports compete more favorably in the overseas markets. Devaluation is the opposite of REVALUATION.
Bear A person who expects share prices in general to decline and who is likely to indulge in SHORT SALES.
Bond A long-term debt instrument on which the issuer pays interest periodically, known as 'Coupon'. Bonds are secured by COLLATERAL in the form of immovable property. While generally, bonds have a definite MATURITY, 'Perpetual Bonds' are securities without any maturity. In the U.S., the term DEBENTURES refers to long-term debt instruments which are not secured by specific collateral, so as to distinguish them from bonds
Bonus Shares The issue of shares to the shareholders of a company, by capitalizing a part of the company's reserves. The decision to issue bonus shares, or stock DIVIDEND as in the U.S., may be in response to the need to signal an affirmation to the expectations of shareholders that the prospects of the company are bright; or it may be with the motive of bringing down the share price in absolute terms, in order to ensure continuing investor interest. Following a bonus issue, though the number of total shares increases, the proportional ownership of shareholders does not change. The magnitude of a bonus issue is determined by taking into account certain rules, laid down for the purpose. For example, the issue can be made out of free reserves created by genuine profits or by share PREMIUM collected in cash only. Also, the residual reserves, after the proposed capitalization, must be at least 40 percent of the increased PAID-UP CAPITAL. These and other guidelines must be satisfied by a company that is considering a bonus issue
Book Value It is the amount of NET ASSETS that would be available per EQUITY SHARE, after a company pays off all LIABILITES including PREFERENCE SHARES from the sale proceeds of all its ASSETS liquidated at BALANCE SHEET values.
Break-even Point The point where the revenues from a business operation equal the total costs (FIXED COSTS = VARIABLE COSTS). Thus, a profit accrues when revenues exceed the break-even point. The break-even volume is computed by dividing the fixed costs (FC) by the difference between the selling price per unit (SP) and variable cost per unit (VC). For instance, if FC is Rs.4,000, VC is Rs.60 and SP is Rs.85, the break-even volume is 4,000/(85-60) = 160 units of output.
Budget A financial plan that projects receipts and payments of an entity covering a specific period of time, usually one year. Its primary purpose is to achieve financial control. Budgets could be distinguished on the basis of time span, function and flexibility. For instance, budgets may be short-term or long-term; similarly, there are Sales Budgets, Cash Budgets, Capital Expenditure Budgets and other to cover different functions.
Bull A person who expects share prices in general to move up and who is likely to take a long position in the stock market.
Capital Adequacy Ratio A requirement imposed on banks to have a certain amount of capital in relation to their ASSETS, i.e., loans and investments as a cushion against probable losses in investments and loans. In simple terms, this means that for every Rs.100 of risk-weighted assets, a bank must have Rs. X in the form of capital. Capital is classified into Tier I or Tier II. Tier I comprises share capital and disclosed reserves, whereas Tier II includes revaluation reserves, hybrid capital and subordinated debt. Further, Tier II capital should not exceed Tier I capital. The risk weightage depends upon the type of assets. For example, it is zero on government guaranteed assets, 20 percent on short-term bank claims on 100 percent on private sector loans. (Risk weights on GOVERNMENT SECURITIES are being introduced.) The capital adequacy ratio is percentage of total capital funds to the total risk-weighted asset
Capital Reserves The reserves created in certain ways, that include the sale of FIXED ASSETS at a profit. These amounts are regarded as not available for distribution as DIVIDENDS.
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) A legal obligation on all SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL banks excluding REGIONAL RURAL BANKS to maintain certain reserves in the form of cash with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The reserves, to be maintained over a fortnight, are computed as a percentage of a bank's net demand and time LIABILITIES. Banks earn interest on eligible cash balances thus maintained and it contributes to their profitability. However, such interest payment tends to attenuate monetary control, and hence these outflows need to be moderated if the situation so demands. An alternative that has been suggested is to fix a lower level of reserves and pay a modest interest.
Commercial Paper (CP) A short-term, unsecured PROMISSORY NOTE issued by BLUE CHIP companies. Like other MONEY MARKET instruments, it is issued at a DISCOUNT on the FACE VALUE and is freely marketable. Commercial Paper may be issued to any person including individuals, banks and companies. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has laid down certain conditions regarding issue of CPs. The issuing company must have a certain minimum tangible NET WORTH, working capital limit, asset classification, etc. and the paper must have a CREDIT RATING of P2, A2 or PR-2. Moreover, the rating must not be over two months old at the time of issue. From November 1996, the extent of CP that can be issued by all eligible corporates has been raised to 100 percent of the working capital credit limit. As for restoration of the limit consequent on redemption of CP, banks have been given freedom to decide on the manner of doing so.
Commodity Futures A standardized contract guaranteeing delivery of a certain quantity of a commodity (such as wheat, soybeans, sugar or copper) on a specified future date, at a price agreed to, at the time of the transaction. These contracts are standardized in terms of quantity, quality and delivery months for different commodities. Contracts on certain commodities such as pepper and coffee are already traded in India. Moreover, the Kabra Committee in 1994 recommended that futures trading be permitted in several other commodities including rice, cotton, Soya bean and castor oil. Further, in an interesting development, a committee appointed by the Reserve Bank of India under the chairmanship of R.V. Gupta has recommended that Indian corporates be allowed to hedge in offshore futures and OPTIONS markets in a phased manner. The committee submitted its report in November 1997.
Cost of Capital The weighted average cost for long-term funds raised by a company from different sources such as term loans, DEBENTURES/BONDS, PREFERENCE SHARES, EQUITY SHARES and retained earnings.
Cost of Goods Sold Alternatively called the Cost of Sales, it is the sum of total input costs associated with a certain quantity of goods sold. The total input costs include materials used, direct and indirect labour, utilities, and other manufacturing expenses including DEPRECIATION.
Coupon Rate It is the rate of annual interest on the PAR VALUE of DEBENTURES or BONDS that an issuer promises to pay. In India, till a few years ago, coupon rates were subject to a ceiling stipulated by the Controller of Capital Issues. With the removal of the ceiling, issuers have fixed their coupon rates by taking into consideration, market perceptions and expectations. The rate may be fixed or it may be floating in relation to some benchmark.
Credit Rating The exercise of assessing the credit record, integrity and capability of a prospective borrower to meet debt obligations. Credit rating relates to companies, individuals and even countries. In the case of a company's debt instrument, such formal evaluation with the aid of quantitative and qualitative criteria, culminates in the assignment of a letter rating to the security. The instrument could be a DEBENTURE, FIXED DEPOSIT OR COMMERCIAL PAPER. The rating represents in rating agency's opinion at that time on the relative safety of timely payment of interest and principal associated with the particular debt obligation. This opinion rests on the agency's assessment of the willingness and capability of the issuer to meet the debt obligations. The methodology is to examine key factors like the business, the management, regulatory environment, competition and fundamental aspects including the financial position. A high credit rating can help in reducing the interest cost and also facilitate placement of the debt security. The rating agencies in India are Credit Rating and Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL), ICRA, and Credit Analysis and Research (CARE)
Cross Currency Option An instrument that confers a contractual right on the purchaser of the OPTION to buy (call) or sell (put) a currency against another currency, e.g., Yen for U.S. dollar. For this privilege, the purchaser pays a cost termed PREMIUM. Incidentally, the terminology applicable to cross currency options is similar to the one for stock options. For instance, the STRIKE PRICE is the contracted exchange rate at which the option buyer buys or sells a currency. The advantages with a cross currency option, (introduced in India in January 1994) as compared to forward and futures deals are that the option buyer is under no obligation to exercise the right; moreover, the maximum possible loss, it at all, becomes known to the option buyer at the outset. Thus, when the direction of a currency's movement is uncertain, a cross currency option may be preferable to a FORWARD CONTRACT.
Current Assets The assets which are expected to be converted into cash or consumed during the 'Operating Cycle' of a business. The operating cycle is the time taken for the sequence of events from the purchase of raw materials to the collection of cash from customers for goods sold. Hence, it is also known as the 'Cash Conversion Cycle'. However, if raw materials are bought on credit, then the cash conversion cycle is shorter than the operating cycle by the period of credit available. Examples of current assets are cash, short-term investments particularly MONEY MARKET securities, raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
Current Liabilities The claims against a company that will become due within a year. These are mainly LIABILITIES on account of purchase of materials or services rendered to the firm. Examples include accounts and PROMISSORY NOTES payable, as well as taxes and loan repayments falling due within the year. Current Ratio This ratio is a measure of a company's ability to pay its short-term debts as they become due. It is computed from a BALANCE SHEET by dividing CURRENT ASSETS by CURRENT LIABILITIES. In India, the general norms for this liquidity ratio is 1.33 Debenture A debt security issued by companies, having a certain MATURITY and bearing a stated COUPON RATE. Debentures may be unsecured or secured by ASSETS such as land and building of the issuing company. Debenture holders have a prior claim on the earnings (coupon) and ASSETS in the event of liquidation, as compared to PREFERENCE and equity shareholders.
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) A ratio used to assess the financial ability of a borrower
to meet debt obligations. While appraising loand requests, lending institutions
ascertain the debt servicing capacity from financial projections submitted, by
computing the ratio of cash accruals plus interest payments (on term loans) to
the sum of interest and loan repayments :
|
DSCR
=
|
Profits
after taxes – DEPRECIATION + Interest charges
|
|
Interest charges + Loan repayments
|
Deflation A phenomenon of falling prices in an economy, which may be due to a contraction in MONEY SUPPLY.
Depreciation An accounting process by which the cost of a FIXED ASSET, such as a building or machinery, is allocated as a periodic expense, spread over the depreciable life of the ASSET. The term also means the amount of expense determined by such a process. Sometimes, it is called AMORTIZATION when the ASSET is intangible or 'depletion' when the asset is a natural resource, such as minerals. There are different methods of depreciation such as the Straight Line Method and the Written Down Value (WDV) method
Depression An economic condition that is characterized by a severe contraction in economic activity, which is manifested. In numerous business shut-downs, widespread unemployment, and declining investment in plant and equipment on account of falling sales.
Derivative A financial contract that derives its value from another ASSET or an index of asset values. These underlying assets maybe foreign exchange, BONDS, equities or commodities. For example, FORWARD CONTRACTS relate to foreign exchange; futures to commodities, debt instruments, currencies or stock indices; and OPTIONS to equities. Derivatives are traded at organized exchanges and in the over-the-counter (OTC) market.
Devaluation The lowering of a country's official exchange rate in relation to a foreign currency (or to gold), so that exports compete more favorably in the overseas markets. Devaluation is the opposite of REVALUATION.
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