List of Glossary Terms
The PDSnet Glossary of Terms contains definitions and explanations for over 2600 financial market terms. These definitions are constantly kept up-to-date with current topical examples from the markets. They are also updated for changes in legislation and current events like COVID19 and the July 2021 civil unrest.
The terms in the Glossary are directly linked to all PDSnet articles, confidential reports, lecture modules and other material. This means that a client reading one of our publications can immediately see which terms are defined in the Glossary and click through to read the definition. Terms within the definitions in the glossary are similarly linked, which gives the Glossary an enormous educational depth share market investors.
| BANKSERV ECONOMIC TRANSACTION INDEX |
This index, better known as the "Beti" shows transactions captured at the Bankserv clearing house for cards, automatic teller machines (ATM) and electronic... read more |
| NATIONALISATION |
The taking over of privately owned assets, especially companies, by the government.... read more |
| GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE |
A formal assurance issued by the South African government—typically through the National Treasury—that it will assume... read more |
| PLATINUM |
A precious metal predominantly produced in South Africa. This metal is used primarily in auto catalysts together with other platinum group metals... read more |
| CROSS HOLDING |
A cross holding occurs where two closely connected companies own shares in each other. This often happens when a subsidiary company owns shares in its parent company.... read more |
| TAKE-HOME PAY INDEX |
An index prepared by Bankserv Africa which incorporates just over one third of salary and wage payments, mostly from large corporates but... read more |
| DEBTORS DAYS OUTSTANDING RATIO |
The average number of days that it takes for a company to collect its debts. This can be calculated by dividing the company's debtors (accounts receivable)... read more |
| CREDIT RATING |
A credit rating is an independent evaluation of a borrower's ability and willingness to repay debt, typically expressed as a letter grade (e.g., AAA, BB,... read more |
| PROVISION |
An item on the balance sheet that falls under liabilities. A provision is "raised" when the company has an expense or potential expense... read more |
| CASH CONVERSION RATIO |
The ratio of operating cash flow to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation).... read more |
| WORLD INFLATION |
An average inflation rate for the world economy - which is an aggregate of all the economies of the world. World inflation is found by calculating... read more |
| WORLD GOLD COUNCIL |
A marketing organisation of the 28 largest gold mining companies in the world operating in 45 countries. The organisations objective is to promote... read more |
| WORLD ECONOMY |
The combined economies of all the countries of the world also called the global economic system. It is important for the private investor... read more |
| WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM |
A non-profit organisation that strives to improve the world by engaging with various societal leaders, mainly in business. It meets once a year in Davos, Switzerland... read more |
| WORLD BANK |
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries, for the purpose of pursuing... read more |
| WORKING CAPITAL |
Money which is tied up in the workings of the company. It is usually calculated by adding the company's debtors and inventory (stock) and... read more |
| WORK IN PROGRESS |
That part of a company's stock which has been partly manufactured. It lies between raw materials and finished goods. Most manufacturers... read more |
| WINNING SHARES LIST |
The Winning Shares List (WSL) is a list of JSE-listed companies which, in the opinion of the staff at PDSnet, have a good chance of going... read more |
| WINDOW DRESSING |
A practice, over the December period when trade on the JSE is relatively thin because of the holidays, when institutions drive the prices... read more |
| WINDOW |
Set period of time such as a look-back period for the market indicator in question. |
| WILTSHIRE 5000 TOTAL MARKET INDEX |
A market capitalisation weighted index of all actively traded shares which have their headquarters in America. The index now includes less... read more |
| WILLIAM'S PERCENTAGE R |
Overbought and oversold indicator that is used to determine market entry and exit points. |
| WILDER WELLES |
John Welles Wilder was an American engineer who invented the relative strength index (RSI) and various other technical indicators. The RSI is a momentum... read more |
| WIDOWS AND ORPHANS FUND |
An institutional term referring to a fund which is dominated by the need to generate income rather than rapid capital growth. |
| WHITE KNIGHT |
A person or company who rescues a business from a hostile takeover usually by buying a large block of their shares which makes the hostile... read more |
| WHITE GOODS |
Large domestic appliances like, fridges, washing machines, dryers, stoves and microwave ovens. These types of big-ticket purchases are very influenced by the state... read more |
| WHITE COLLAR |
A term used to describe office workers and management, as opposed to workers who are in line functions in factories. White collar workers (especially management)... read more |
| WHISPER NUMBER |
A currency amount which fund managers and others in the investment management business talk about for a particular company's key statistics... read more |
| WHIPSAW |
Losing money on both sides of a price swing. |
| WHIP LASH |
In technical analysis when a share's price cuts up and down through its moving average giving a series of buy signals and sell... read more |