The financial world has developed a special investment-oriented language to help describe the stock market, investments, securities for the stock market, stock market analysis, and its conditions. At times you may be confronted with a term which is totally alien or has a completely different meaning from what you thought. Misunderstanding these terms can sometimes lead to the wrong conclusion, and that can cost you money!

What you don't know can hurt you.

The security or commodity to be purchased or sold when an option contract is exercised.

A firm that brings out new securities issues, agreeing to purchase and resell them. Often a lead underwriter and several other underwriters will work together on a given issue.

Income that includes dividends, interest, royalties, rental fees, capital gains, and any other income that does not come from the sweat of your brow.

The date and time a quote was provided.

A bond category that includes bonds relating to electricity, gas, nuclear power, dams, and telephone companies.

A category that includes electricity, gas, nuclear power, dams and telephone companies.