Bond fundA mutual fund whose portfolio consists primarily of bonds.
Bond ratingIndependent agencies, such as Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Moody's Investors Service, assess the likelihood that bond issuers are likely to default on…
Bond swapIn a bond swap, you buy one bond and sell another at the same time. For example, you might sell one bond at a loss at year's end to get a tax write-off…
Bond, U.S. SavingsSavings bonds are issued in face value denominations by the U.S. Government in denominations ranging from $50 to $10,000.
Bonds (Corporate)Corporate debt owed by an issuer to a bondholder usually a promise to pay a specified rate of interest over a fixed rate of time.
bonusCompensation received by an employee for services performed. A bonus is given in addition to an employee's usual compensation.
Book valueThe value of net assets that belong to a company's shareholders, as stated on the balance sheet.
Book Value (BV)The value of individual assets, calculated as actual cost less allowance for any depreciation. Book value may be more or less than current market value.
Book-entry securityBook-entry securities are stocks, bonds, and similar investments whose ownership is recorded electronically rather than in certificate form.
BorrowerA person who has been approved to receive a loan and is then obligated to repay it and any additional fees according to the loan terms.
Bottom fishingInvestors using a bottom-fishing strategy look for stocks that they consider undervalued because the prices are low.
Bottom-up investingWhen you use a bottom-up investing strategy, you focus on the potential of individual stocks, bonds, and other investments.
BourseBourse is the French term for a stock exchange, meaning, literally, purse. The national stock market of France, a totally electronic market, is known as…
bp (Basis Point)The smallest measure used in quoting yields or returns. One basis point is 0.01% of yield, 100 basis points equals 1%. A yield that changed from 8.
BPTSee Business, professional, and technical services transactions (BPT)
BracketA projecting angled or curved form used as a support, found in conjunction with balconies, lintels, pediments, cornices, etc.
Bracket SignA rigid outdoor sign, with two display faces, installed perpendicular to a building facade and hanging from an armature, used as an announcement for an…
Brady bondThese bonds of Latin American countries, named for former US Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas Brady, are issued in US dollars and backed by US Treasury…
Branch OfficeFor banks and thrifts, a branch office is an office approved as a branch by a supervisory agency.
branch office, securitiesA location other than the main office at which a broker-dealer or investment adviser conducts a securities or investment advisory business.
branch, bankBranch means any office at a fixed location of a bank, other than the main office, at which deposits are received, checks paid, and money lent, and that…
branch, credit unionBranch means any office established by a credit union at a fixed location, at which shares or deposits are received, share drafts or checks are paid, or…
branch, foreign banksee also Foreign Bank Branches and agencies are the most common structures of foreign banking organizations in the United States.
Breakaway wallA wall that is not part of the structural support of the building and is intended through its design and construction to collapse under specific lateral…
BreakoutStock prices fluctuate constantly, but each stock typically moves within a fairly narrow range.
BreakpointA breakpoint is the level at which your account balance in a mutual fund company or the size of a new investment in the company's funds qualifies you to…
Brick MoldingA milled wood trim piece covering the gap between the window frame and masonry, which can be rectilinear, curved, or composite-curved.
Bridge LoanA short-term loan secured by the borrower's current home (which is usually for sale) that allows the proceeds to be used for building or closing on a new…
BrokerAn agent who handles the public's orders to buy and sell securities, commodities or other property. A commission is generally charged for this service.
Broker-dealerA person that buys and sells securities for others or for h the broker-dealer's own account (e.g. proprietary trading).
Brokerage accountTo buy and sell securities through a broker-dealer or other financial services firm, you establish an account, generally known as a brokerage account…
Brokerage firmBrokerage firms, also known as broker-dealers, are licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to buy and sell securities for clients and for…
Brokerage windowA 401(k) account that permits its plan participants to buy and sell investments through a designated brokerage account is said to offer a brokerage window.
Bucket shopA bucket shop is an illegal brokerage firm, whose salespeople pose as legitimate brokers and attempt to sell you securities.
BudgetA budget is a plan on how much to save each week or month to make a purchase or to reach a savings goal.
Builders RiskCoverage for a home under construction. Claim payments are based on the percentage completed at time of loss.
Building CodeLocal regulations that set forth the standards and requirements for the construction, maintenance and occupancy of buildings.
Building StreetwallThe predominant plane of the building facade at the level of the storefront.
BulkheadThe part of a storefront that forms a base for one or more display windows
Bull marketA market in which prices are generally rising.
Bull spreadA bull spread is an options strategy that you use when you anticipate an increase in the price of the underlying instrument, such as a stock or an index.
businessA continuous and regular activity that has income or profit as its primary purpose.
business and industrial development corporationA business and industrial development corporation is one form of organization for lenders participating in the loan guarantee programs of the federal…
Business current transfer payments (net)Net payments by businesses to persons, government, and the rest of the world for which no current services are performed.
Business DayAny day on which offices of a bank are open to the public for carrying on substantially all of the bank's business.
business opportunityThe sale or lease of products, equipment, supplies or services to enable a person to start his or her own business.
Business sectorAll corporate and noncorporate private entities organized for profit and certain other entities that are treated as businesses in the national income and…
Buy DownWhen you make an up-front cash payment to reduce your monthly payments on a mortgage loan, it's called a buy down.
Buy Here, Pay Here Financingis usually associated with used car dealers. Installment payments, often made weekly, are paid directly to the dealership, which provides private…
Buy sideInstitutional money managers, such as mutual funds, pension funds, and endowments, are the buy side of Wall Street.
Buy-and-holdBuy-and-hold investors take a long-term view of investing, generally keeping a bond from date of issue to date of maturity and holding onto shares of a…
BuybackWhen a company purchases shares of its own publicly traded stock or its own bonds in the open market, it's called a buyback.
BuydownAn arrangement whereby the property developer or another third party provides an interest subsidy to reduce the borrower's monthly payments typically in…
Buydown AccountAn account in which funds are held so that they can be applied as part of the monthly mortgage payment as each payment comes due during the period that an…
Buyer's AgentA buyer's agent represents a buyer in a real estate transaction, negotiating with the seller's agent for a lower price or a contract with more favorable…
BV (Book Value)The value of individual assets, calculated as actual cost less allowance for any depreciation. Book value may be more or less than current market value.
BylawsBylaws are the self-imposed rules governing an incorporated company. The bylaws cover details such as the structure of the company, what the company's…