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Investors can trade futures to speculate or hedge on the price direction of a security, commodity, or financial instrument. To do this, traders purchase a futures contract, which is a legal agreement to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future. Futures came about in the mid-19th century, allowing

Is it better to be bad than to be good? It is a question that has plagued humanity since the beginning of time, and the world of investing has not been immune to the controversy. In one corner are the fans of socially responsible investing (SRI), and in the other corner are the fans of

Macaulay Duration vs. Modified Duration: An Overview The Macaulay duration and the modified duration are chiefly used to calculate the duration of bonds. The Macaulay duration calculates the weighted average time before a bondholder would receive the bond’s cash flows. Conversely, the modified duration measures the price sensitivity of a bond when there is a

Marriage vs. Common-Law Marriage: An Overview There are many things you and your partner have to think about when you’re making a life together from where you’re going to live, who will take charge of the cooking, and whether or not you’re going to have kids. But that’s not all. Couples also have to decide what

Quantitative analysts develop high-level trading and risk management strategies using complex algorithms and mathematical equations. This is a career for the top 1% in numerical proficiency. If you were always the math whiz in class, even at the post-graduate level, a lucrative career in quantitative analysis could be in your future. Most quantitative analysts have

If you’ve ever watched the TV show Extreme Couponing or read about a customer who got $200 worth of groceries for next to nothing, you’ve probably wondered what’s in it for the manufacturers and stores who offer these coupons. Are they actually making money in the process, or are customers getting away with legalized robbery?

A pyramid scheme is a fraudulent and unsustainable investment pitch that relies on promising unrealistic returns from imaginary investments. The early investors actually get paid those big returns, which leads them to recommend the scheme to others. Investors’ returns are paid out of the new money flowing in. Eventually, no new investors can be found

A gilt-edged bond is simply a high-grade type of debt. What blue-chip stocks are to ordinary equities, gilt-edged bonds are to regular bond issues. As with any bond, the federal or corporate issuer is borrowing money from investors at a set rate of interest for a specific period of time. Key Takeaways A bond is

In recent decades, consumers have become increasingly dependent on credit. When you use credit, you are borrowing money that you promise to pay back within a specified period. Having lenders extend you credit is a great privilege. If you have a good credit rating, enjoy it. Also, use credit responsibly. Credit is fragile—one slip-up can

What Is a Prepaid Card? A prepaid card is a type of debit card, similar to a reloadable gift card or stored-value card. You can load it with a cash balance and use it anywhere a particular card network—Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or American Express—is accepted. Here is why you might consider one. Key Takeaways Prepaid

Bitcoin has not only been a trendsetter, ushering in a wave of cryptocurrencies built on a decentralized peer-to-peer network, but also has become the de facto standard for cryptocurrencies, inspiring an ever-growing legion of followers and spinoffs. Key Takeaways A cryptocurrency, broadly defined, is a form of digital tokens or “coins” that exist on a

Investors, the Federal Reserve, and businesses continuously monitor and worry about the level of inflation. Inflation—the rise in the price of goods and services—reduces the purchasing power of each unit of currency. Rising inflation can be harmful: input prices are higher, consumers may lose purchasing power unless their incomes rise, and monetary policy measures to contain

Don’t churn. Avoid unauthorized trading. Don’t forge documents. Don’t give false or misleading information. Preserve client confidentiality. Above all, don’t steal or “borrow” your clients’ money. These practices are all standard protocols for financial advisors. However, there are less obvious guidelines you need to adhere to so you can avoid getting sued as a financial advisor. In 2019, the

The price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is one of the most widely used metrics for investors and analysts to determine stock valuation. In addition to showing whether a company’s stock price is overvalued or undervalued, the P/E can reveal how a stock’s valuation compares to its industry group or a benchmark like the S&P 500 index. The P/E ratio helps investors determine the market value