Financial Markets
- Bonds FAQ (15)
- Stocks and Investing FAQ (13)
- Stock Market Components (8)
- Commodities Market FAQ (15)
- Hedge Fund FAQ (5)
- Mutual Funds FAQ (4)
Private Equity
Private equity is private ownership of a corporation.
An Introduction to the U.S. Financial Markets
An introduction to the financial markets, including a definition of financial markets, a description the components of the financial markets and how the markets impact the U.S. economy.
Stocks and Stock Investing
A definition of stocks, how stock investing benefits the individual investor, the impact of stocks and stock investing on the U.S. economy. Tips on how to be a good stock investor.
What Is the S&P 500?
How the S&P 500 is different from other stock market indices.
Volatility
Before investing in any kind of market, whether it be stocks, commodities or forex, you need to understand volatility.
Stock Market Crash of 2008
The stock market crash of 2008 included the Dow's worst point drop ever -- 777 points in September. Track the timeline to understand how the Dow fell more than 50% in less than 18 months.
What Are the Components of the Stock Market?
Explains components of the stock market, including the Dow Jones averages and the most popular exchanges, including NASDAQ and the NYSE.
What Are Derivatives?
Financial derivatives include options, swaps and futures contracts. They derive their value from underlying assets. Understand how they are traded, and their risks.
What Are Mutual Funds?
Describes mutual funds, how they are different from stocks, and how they impact the US economy.
What Is the Bond Market?
Describes the bond market, including corporate bonds, high yield bonds, Treasury bonds, savings bonds and municipal bonds.
What Is the Commodities Market?
An explanation of the commodities market, how it works, and why it is important to the US economy.
What Are Hedge Funds?
A definition of hedge funds, who invests in them and why. How the growth of hedge funds has affected the financial markets and the U.S. economy. The LTCM crisis and 1998.
What Is Forex Trading?
Forex trading has grown to a stunning $4 trillion per day. This greatly influences the value of the dollar, interest rates and inflation.
Dollar Index
The USDX dollar index can be traded either as a futures contract or an option. It allows companies to hedge against currency risk, and traders to make money based on the direction they think the dollar will go.
S&P Rating
How the S&P 500 is different from other stock market indices.
What Is Wall Street?
Wall Street is the heart of New York's financial district. As such, it symbolized all the trading of stocks, bonds, commodities and foreign exchange, and the derivatives that base their value on them.
America, Welcome to the Poorhouse
Retirement planning is essential, but most Americans have no retirement plan. A great retirement planner is Jane White's book, America, Welcome to the Poorhouse.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Definition of how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 affects the U.S. economy.
Financial Regulations
Insufficient Federal regulations for the financial industry have been blamed for the recession. Will increased regulations prevent another financial crisis.
What Are the Odds of Winning the Lottery?
Why winning the lottery is not the best way to plan for retirement. Ways to improve your odds.