Glossary of Terms
At the money
At the money is a term used in options trading, used to define the proximity of an underlying asset’s price to the figure at which it can be bought or sold (known as its strike price).
Barriers
Barriers are used in derivatives to either knock-in or knock-out contracts. Knock-in is a barrier that creates a new contract. Knock-out is a barrier that cancels a contract.
Basis Point
A basis point is a unit used in trading to describe movements in interest rates or other percentages. It is equal to one hundredth of one percent, or 0.01%.
Derivative
A derivative is a financial product that enables traders to speculate on the price movement of assets without purchasing the assets themselves
Expiry
The last date an option can be exercised. If the option is exercised the currencies will be delivered/settled 2 business days later.
FCA
The FCA, or Financial Conduct Authority, is the United Kingdom’s financial regulatory body.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign Exchange is how market participants convert one currency to another. It can variously be referred to as Forex, FX, or currencies.
Forward Contract
The exchange of one currency for another currency at a specified exchange rate, for a specified amount, at a specified date in the future.
Forward Points
The difference, in basis points terms, between the spot rate and the forward rate.
Forward Rate
The rate at which a forward contract can be booked.
Call
A call is a type of option that gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to buy a certain market at a certain price (called the strike price) before its expiry date.
Hedge
A hedge is an investment or trade designed to reduce your existing exposure to risk. The process of reducing risk via investments is called 'hedging'.
Initial Margin
The initial deposit a client must post to protect the broker from the risk of default.
Interest Rates
The amount that a lender charges to a borrower for the loan of an asset, usually expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed.
In the Money
An options contract is in the money if it has intrinsic value. For example, a call option is in the money when the spot price is greater than the strike price of the option.
Margin Call Agreement
A legal agreement defining the credit terms between the broker and its client. The agreement covers the offer of a trading line and an initial or variation margin levels.
NYC
An Acronym for New York Cut. This is the standardised time for OTC options expiries. 10am New York time.
Options
An option is a financial instrument that offers you the right – but not the obligation – to buy or sell an asset when its price moves beyond a certain price with a set time period.
Order
An order is a request sent to a broker or trading platform to make a trade on a financial instrument.
Market
Markets are a medium through which assets are traded, with their value determined by supply and demand.
Out of the Money
Out of the money is the point at which it is an option contract will not be executed as it has no intrinsic value. Exercising an out of the money option will result in a trading loss.
Participating Forward
A foreign exchange contract that allows the holder to benefit from favourable exchange rate movements for a predefined percentage of the total amount in exchange for a less favourable forward rate than an outright forward.
Premium
The initial cost to purchase a vanilla option.
Profit and Loss
Profit and loss refer to the financial returns or losses from any business enterprise or trade.
OTC
OTC stands for over the counter and refers to a trade that is not made on a formal exchange.
Puts
Puts are a variety of option that give the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to sell an asset at a certain price before the option expires.
Quote
The quote is the price at which an asset was last traded, or the price at which it can currently be bought or sold.
Risks
Risks are the ways in which an investment can end up losing you money.
Settlement
The date on which the exchange of assets takes place.
Settlement Date
The date on which trade settlement occurs.
Spot Rate
The exchange today of one currency for another currency at a specified exchange rate and specified amount..
Spread
Spread is the difference in price between the buy (bid) and sell (offer) prices quoted for an asset.
Strike
In options trading, the strike is the price at which a contract can be exercised, and the price at which the underlying asset will be bought or sold. It is also known as the strike price.
Vanilla
A term used for generic, non-exotic options with no barriers associated with them.
Variation Margin
The money which must be deposited with the broker to ensure against default in the event of your contract losing value during the contract’s life.
Volatility
A market’s volatility is its likelihood of making major, unforeseen short-term price movements at any given time.