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Trading Glossary

Take a look at our list of the financial terms associated with trading and the markets. From beginners starting their trading journey to experts with decades of experience, all traders need to clearly understand a huge number of terms.

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Consumer Price Index

What is CPI?

Consumer Price Index or CPI is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. Indexes are available for the U.S. and various geographic areas. It is considered as one of the most popular measures of inflation and deflation. CPI is also used to estimate the purchasing power of a country’s currency.
 
How is CPI Calculated?
CPI is calculated by considering Key contributors, including retail and services businesses as well as the U.S. rental housing market (housing accounts for approx. 30% of the CPI). There are several CPI variations:
• CPI-U index reviews the spending habits of urban consumers in the U.S.A. This constitutes for approx. 88% of the U.S population. 
• CPI-W index for calculates changes in the costs of benefits paid to “urban wage earners and clerical workers,” which is used to calculate changes in the costs of benefits paid via Social Security. 
• CPI ex-food and energy – is highly volatile and thus is excluded from the overall CPI.

US Tech 100

US Tech 100 (NQ) is a market capitalization-weighted stock market index that includes the hundred largest non-financial domestic and international companies.

The index is constituted by sectors such as Technology, Consumer Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Consumer Goods and Telecommunications.

The US Tech 100 index contains some of the largest companies in the world, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Google parent Alphabet and Netflix.

The US Tech 100 index futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of some of the world’s biggest stocks. Contracts rollover on the second Friday of March, June, September and December.

India 50

The NIFTY 50 Index, also known as the India 50, is a free-float market capitalisation computed index of 50 top companies trading on the National Stock Exchange of India.

The index was launched on April 22nd, 1996, with a base value of 1,000, calculated as of November 3rd, 1995.

Financial Services is the largest component of the index, with a weighting of 37.09%, while Energy and IT are the second and third largest sectors, accounting for 15.01% and 13.27% respectively. The index covers 12 sectors of the Indian economy; Financial Services, Energy, IT, Consumer Goods, Automobile, Construction, Metals, Pharma, Cement & Cement Products, Telecom, Media & Entertainment, Services, and Fertilisers & Pesticides.

India 50 futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the National Stock Exchange of India. Futures rollover on the fourth Friday of each month.

Swiss 20

The Swiss Market Index (SMI), also known as the Swiss 20, is a blue-chip index of the 20 largest and most-liquid companies traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange, covering around 80% of the total market capitalisation of Swiss equities. The index is weighted so that no component can exceed 20%, enabling it to be a key barometer of the Swiss stock market.

The index was launched on 30th June 1988, and has the same base date. It has a base value of 1,500 points, reached a high in January 2018 of 9,611.61, and an all-time low of 1,287.60 in January 1991.

Healthcare is the largest index sector, accounting for 37.5% of the total weighting, followed by Consumer Goods with 24%, and Financials with 21.6%. Industrials is the fourth-largest sector with 13.6%.

Swiss Market Index futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Contracts rollover on the second Friday of March, June, September, and December.

Japan 225

The Nikkei 225, also known as the Japan 225, is the leading barometer of the Japanese stock market. It is a price-weighted index, comprising of stocks selected from the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The rankings are calculated using a method called ‘Dow Adjustment', in which stock prices, adjusted by a par value, are divided by a divisor, helping eliminate the impact of external influences.

The index was introduced on the 7th September 1950, using a base date of May 16th 1949 and a base value of 176.21. The Nikkei 225 peaked at 38,915.87 in December 1989 and hit a low of 85.25 in July 1950.

Technology dominates the Nikkei 225 index with a total weighting of 44.62%. Consumer Goods is the second-largest category with a weighting of 21.80%, while Materials is the third-biggest sector at 16.96%.

Japan 255 futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the Japanese stock market. Futures rollover on the 1st Friday of March, June, September, and December.

Spain 35

The IBEX 35, or Spain 35, is the benchmark index for the Spanish stock market and tracks the performance of the top 35 most-traded and most-liquid companies on the Bolsa de Madrid (Madrid Stock Exchange).

The index is market capitalisation-weighted and free float-adjusted. It was launched on 14th January 1992 but has a base date of 30th December 2010 and a base level of 1,000. Selection is based upon liquidity, but there is a maximum weighting limit of 40%.

Financial & Real Estate Services is the most-represented sector in the index, accounting for around 34% of the weighting. The next-largest sector is Oil & Energy, with just over 20%, followed by Technology & Telecommunications with just over 15%. Consumer Goods, Basic Materials, Industry & Construction, and Consumer Services complete the list of sectors covered in descending order of weighting.

Spain 35 futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the Bolsa de Madrid. Contracts rollover on the second Friday of every month.

Rally

What is a Rally?

What is a Rally in Trading?
A rally in trading refers to a period of time when the price of an asset, such as a stock or commodity, rises significantly. A rally is often characterized by an increase in buying activity and positive investor sentiment, which drives the price upward. Rallies can be short-lived or last for an extended period, depending on the underlying factors driving the market.

How long does a stock rally last?
Rallies can be short-term or long-term depending on factors like market sentiment and the performance of underlying stocks. On average, stock rallies can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks or even months. The length of any given rally is impossible to predict and it’s up to individual investors to do their research and make their own decisions on whether they want to invest during a stock rally.

How do you identify a stock rally?
Rallies can be identified by several factors including an increase in price, strong trading volume, positive news stories and upbeat investor sentiment. To accurately determine if there is a stock rally, look at the index chart of the overall market, specific sectors or individual stocks. Additionally, keep an eye on economic indicators such as gross domestic product, employment data and consumer confidence to assess if conditions are conducive for a rally. Doing research and regularly monitoring the stock market can help investors identify potential opportunities during a rally.

 

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Fund

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) tracks US consumer discretionary companies within the S&P 500. This asset uses the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index as its tracking benchmark. The top ten holdings account for 66.2% of the fund’s portfolio.

The index comprises just 66 holdings from the consumer sector and includes many household names. Top holdings include Amazon, Home Depot, McDonalds and Nike.

Consumer Staples Select Sector Fund

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) tracks US consumer staples companies within the S&P 500. This asset uses the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index as its tracking benchmark. The fund provides strong and representative exposure to consumer staples and the companies are large-cap in the main.

The index comprises just 34 holdings from the consumer sector and includes many household names. Top holdings include Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Walmart.

Russell 2000

IWM, also known as iShares USA2000 ETF which seeks to mirror the performance of the USA2000 Index. The ETF has a basket of shares that is similarly weighted to the USA2000 Index, and comprises well-diversified small-cap stocks. It has around 2,000 holdings, all small cap stocks with market capitalisation of less than $1bn.

The portfolio is made up of multiple sectors including 24.52% financials, 16.60% information technology, 16.47% health care, 14.72% consumer discretionary and 12.71% industrials. The remainder is split between materials, energy, utilities, consumer staple and telecoms. Stocks include Etsy, Hubspot and Planet Fitness Inc.

A-D

Consumer Price Index

What is CPI?

Consumer Price Index or CPI is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. Indexes are available for the U.S. and various geographic areas. It is considered as one of the most popular measures of inflation and deflation. CPI is also used to estimate the purchasing power of a country’s currency.
 
How is CPI Calculated?
CPI is calculated by considering Key contributors, including retail and services businesses as well as the U.S. rental housing market (housing accounts for approx. 30% of the CPI). There are several CPI variations:
• CPI-U index reviews the spending habits of urban consumers in the U.S.A. This constitutes for approx. 88% of the U.S population. 
• CPI-W index for calculates changes in the costs of benefits paid to “urban wage earners and clerical workers,” which is used to calculate changes in the costs of benefits paid via Social Security. 
• CPI ex-food and energy – is highly volatile and thus is excluded from the overall CPI.

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Fund

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) tracks US consumer discretionary companies within the S&P 500. This asset uses the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index as its tracking benchmark. The top ten holdings account for 66.2% of the fund’s portfolio.

The index comprises just 66 holdings from the consumer sector and includes many household names. Top holdings include Amazon, Home Depot, McDonalds and Nike.

Consumer Staples Select Sector Fund

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) tracks US consumer staples companies within the S&P 500. This asset uses the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index as its tracking benchmark. The fund provides strong and representative exposure to consumer staples and the companies are large-cap in the main.

The index comprises just 34 holdings from the consumer sector and includes many household names. Top holdings include Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Walmart.

E-H

I-L

India 50

The NIFTY 50 Index, also known as the India 50, is a free-float market capitalisation computed index of 50 top companies trading on the National Stock Exchange of India.

The index was launched on April 22nd, 1996, with a base value of 1,000, calculated as of November 3rd, 1995.

Financial Services is the largest component of the index, with a weighting of 37.09%, while Energy and IT are the second and third largest sectors, accounting for 15.01% and 13.27% respectively. The index covers 12 sectors of the Indian economy; Financial Services, Energy, IT, Consumer Goods, Automobile, Construction, Metals, Pharma, Cement & Cement Products, Telecom, Media & Entertainment, Services, and Fertilisers & Pesticides.

India 50 futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the National Stock Exchange of India. Futures rollover on the fourth Friday of each month.

Japan 225

The Nikkei 225, also known as the Japan 225, is the leading barometer of the Japanese stock market. It is a price-weighted index, comprising of stocks selected from the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The rankings are calculated using a method called ‘Dow Adjustment', in which stock prices, adjusted by a par value, are divided by a divisor, helping eliminate the impact of external influences.

The index was introduced on the 7th September 1950, using a base date of May 16th 1949 and a base value of 176.21. The Nikkei 225 peaked at 38,915.87 in December 1989 and hit a low of 85.25 in July 1950.

Technology dominates the Nikkei 225 index with a total weighting of 44.62%. Consumer Goods is the second-largest category with a weighting of 21.80%, while Materials is the third-biggest sector at 16.96%.

Japan 255 futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the Japanese stock market. Futures rollover on the 1st Friday of March, June, September, and December.

M-P

Q-T

Swiss 20

The Swiss Market Index (SMI), also known as the Swiss 20, is a blue-chip index of the 20 largest and most-liquid companies traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange, covering around 80% of the total market capitalisation of Swiss equities. The index is weighted so that no component can exceed 20%, enabling it to be a key barometer of the Swiss stock market.

The index was launched on 30th June 1988, and has the same base date. It has a base value of 1,500 points, reached a high in January 2018 of 9,611.61, and an all-time low of 1,287.60 in January 1991.

Healthcare is the largest index sector, accounting for 37.5% of the total weighting, followed by Consumer Goods with 24%, and Financials with 21.6%. Industrials is the fourth-largest sector with 13.6%.

Swiss Market Index futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Contracts rollover on the second Friday of March, June, September, and December.

Spain 35

The IBEX 35, or Spain 35, is the benchmark index for the Spanish stock market and tracks the performance of the top 35 most-traded and most-liquid companies on the Bolsa de Madrid (Madrid Stock Exchange).

The index is market capitalisation-weighted and free float-adjusted. It was launched on 14th January 1992 but has a base date of 30th December 2010 and a base level of 1,000. Selection is based upon liquidity, but there is a maximum weighting limit of 40%.

Financial & Real Estate Services is the most-represented sector in the index, accounting for around 34% of the weighting. The next-largest sector is Oil & Energy, with just over 20%, followed by Technology & Telecommunications with just over 15%. Consumer Goods, Basic Materials, Industry & Construction, and Consumer Services complete the list of sectors covered in descending order of weighting.

Spain 35 futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of major stocks on the Bolsa de Madrid. Contracts rollover on the second Friday of every month.

Rally

What is a Rally?

What is a Rally in Trading?
A rally in trading refers to a period of time when the price of an asset, such as a stock or commodity, rises significantly. A rally is often characterized by an increase in buying activity and positive investor sentiment, which drives the price upward. Rallies can be short-lived or last for an extended period, depending on the underlying factors driving the market.

How long does a stock rally last?
Rallies can be short-term or long-term depending on factors like market sentiment and the performance of underlying stocks. On average, stock rallies can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks or even months. The length of any given rally is impossible to predict and it’s up to individual investors to do their research and make their own decisions on whether they want to invest during a stock rally.

How do you identify a stock rally?
Rallies can be identified by several factors including an increase in price, strong trading volume, positive news stories and upbeat investor sentiment. To accurately determine if there is a stock rally, look at the index chart of the overall market, specific sectors or individual stocks. Additionally, keep an eye on economic indicators such as gross domestic product, employment data and consumer confidence to assess if conditions are conducive for a rally. Doing research and regularly monitoring the stock market can help investors identify potential opportunities during a rally.

 

Russell 2000

IWM, also known as iShares USA2000 ETF which seeks to mirror the performance of the USA2000 Index. The ETF has a basket of shares that is similarly weighted to the USA2000 Index, and comprises well-diversified small-cap stocks. It has around 2,000 holdings, all small cap stocks with market capitalisation of less than $1bn.

The portfolio is made up of multiple sectors including 24.52% financials, 16.60% information technology, 16.47% health care, 14.72% consumer discretionary and 12.71% industrials. The remainder is split between materials, energy, utilities, consumer staple and telecoms. Stocks include Etsy, Hubspot and Planet Fitness Inc.

U-Z

US Tech 100

US Tech 100 (NQ) is a market capitalization-weighted stock market index that includes the hundred largest non-financial domestic and international companies.

The index is constituted by sectors such as Technology, Consumer Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Consumer Goods and Telecommunications.

The US Tech 100 index contains some of the largest companies in the world, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Google parent Alphabet and Netflix.

The US Tech 100 index futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of some of the world’s biggest stocks. Contracts rollover on the second Friday of March, June, September and December.

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