Stock Market
Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms that matter most for global equity investors — from quantitative metrics and algorithmic trading concepts to international regulatory frameworks.
Browse Market-Specific Content Hubs
All Terms
Sharia-Compliant Stocks (UAE)
Understand the criteria for a stock to be Sharia-compliant in the UAE and how Islamic finance principles apply to equities.
DPU (Distribution Per Unit) (Singapore)
What is DPU (Distribution Per Unit) in REITs? Learn how S-REIT distributions are calculated and evaluated.
Price to Book (P/B) Ratio (USA)
What is the price-to-book (P/B) ratio? Learn how it is calculated and used to find undervalued value stocks.
SCA (Securities and Commodities Authority) (UAE)
What is the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in the UAE? Learn about its regulatory role and market oversight.
Earnings Season (USA)
Learn how the US corporate earnings season works, the quarterly calendar timeline, and how to trade earnings beats and misses.
Technical Analysis (World)
Technical analysis explained globally — charts, patterns, and indicators for any stock market.
Balance Sheet (India)
Learn how to read and analyze the balance sheet of Indian companies listed on NSE with simple examples.
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) (India)
Understand what a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is in Indian mutual funds, its benefits, and how it works.
RBNZ OCR (New Zealand)
Reserve Bank of NZ Official Cash Rate — how it affects mortgages, inflation, and NZX stocks.
Straits Times Index (STI) (Singapore)
The Straits Times Index (STI) explained. Learn about its composition, key blue-chip stocks, and how to track it.
Annual Report (UAE)
Learn how to read and analyze the annual report of UAE listed companies to make informed investment decisions.
Beta (USA)
Understand the beta coefficient in stock market risk. Learn how it measures volatility compared to the S&P 500.
Free Cash Flow (USA)
Learn about Free Cash Flow (FCF) in investing. See why cash is king and how to use FCF to evaluate quality companies.
Nifty 50 Index (India)
The Nifty 50 index explained simply for beginners. Learn about its composition, weighting, and how to invest in it.
SGX (Singapore Exchange) (Singapore)
An overview of the Singapore Exchange (SGX), its history, structure, and key listing rules for investors.
Trading Account (UAE)
A step-by-step guide to opening a trading account in Dubai with DFM licensed brokers as a resident or foreign investor.
EPS (Earnings Per Share) (USA)
What is EPS (Earnings Per Share)? Learn how to calculate EPS, its types, and why it is a key metric in US stock picking.
NYSE vs NASDAQ (USA)
Learn the key differences between the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, including trading systems and listings.
Circuit Breaker (India)
What is a circuit breaker in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India? Learn how upper and lower price bands work.
T+2 Settlement (Singapore)
How does T+2 settlement work on the Singapore Exchange (SGX)? Understand clearing cycles and timeline for stock delivery.
Earnings Report (USA)
A comprehensive guide on how to read a stock earnings report, including revenue, net income, margins, and EPS.
Circuit Limits (Upper & Lower) (India)
Learn what upper circuit and lower circuit price bands are on the NSE and how they protect investors from high volatility.
Nifty 50 Investing (India)
Step-by-step guide on how to invest in the Nifty 50 index for beginners through ETFs and mutual funds in India.
FIF Tax (New Zealand)
Foreign Investment Fund tax for NZ investors buying overseas shares — the FDR method explained.
Blue Chip Stocks (Singapore)
Learn about the top blue-chip companies listed on the SGX, their financial resilience, and long-term investment case.
Capital Gains Tax (UAE)
An in-depth look at capital gains tax and dividend tax rules for stock market investors in the UAE.
Market Capitalization (USA)
What is market capitalization? Learn the formula, company size categories, and why it is essential for stock valuation.
Stock Split (USA)
What is a stock split? Learn how forward and reverse stock splits work, and their effect on share prices and market caps.
Demat vs Trading Account (India)
Compare demat account vs trading account in India. Learn the key differences, purpose, and how they work together.
SEBI (India)
Understand what SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is, its role, powers, and significance in the stock market.
PIE Fund (New Zealand)
Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) tax treatment — how PIE funds reduce tax for NZ investors.
Brokerage Account (Singapore)
Step-by-step guide on how to open a retail stock brokerage account in Singapore, including CDP link requirements.
ETF vs Unit Trust (Singapore)
Compare ETFs vs unit trusts in Singapore. Learn about cost differences, accessibility, and management style.
DFM vs ADX (UAE)
Learn the main differences between the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in the UAE.
Short Selling (USA)
Short selling explained simply. Learn how traders bet against a stock, the borrow process, margin rules, and squeeze risks.
Sovereign Wealth Fund (USA)
What is a sovereign wealth fund? Learn about the largest government-backed investment pools, their funding, and strategies.
BSE vs NSE (India)
Learn the key differences between the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in India.
Capital Gains Tax NZ (New Zealand)
New Zealand's lack of capital gains tax and how it affects long-term share investing decisions.
CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS) (Singapore)
Understand the Central Provident Fund Investment Scheme (CPFIS) and how to invest your CPF Ordinary Account savings.
Federal Reserve Rate Impact (USA)
An in-depth explanation of how Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and cuts affect US stock valuations and sectors.
Bear Market (India)
Bear market definition, causes, and survival strategies for Indian retail investors.
Bollinger Bands (India)
Bollinger Bands squeeze and breakout trading for NSE and Nifty charts.
Bull Market (India)
What a bull market is, how long they last, and how to invest during rising markets in India.
Dividend (India)
What dividends are, how they work for NSE-listed companies, and how to calculate yield.
Dollar Cost Averaging (India)
Dollar cost averaging (SIP method) for building wealth in Indian stocks over time.
EBITDA (India)
EBITDA and EV/EBITDA multiples used in Indian stock valuation analysis.
ELSS (India)
Equity Linked Savings Scheme — India's tax-saving mutual fund with 3-year lock-in and 80C deduction.
Free Cash Flow (India)
Free cash flow for quality screening of NSE-listed companies.
Fundamental Analysis (India)
Fundamental analysis of Indian stocks — the complete process from revenue to valuation.
Intraday Trading (India)
What intraday trading is, how it works on NSE, and the key rules beginners must follow.
LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gains) (India)
LTCG tax on Indian stocks and mutual funds — rates, exemption limit, and how to calculate your liability.
Margin Trading (India)
Margin trading facility on NSE — how leverage works, risks, and SEBI rules.
Market Capitalisation (India)
Market cap classifications in India.
NAV (Net Asset Value) (India)
Net Asset Value of a mutual fund explained — how it's calculated and why it's not the same as stock price.
P/E Ratio (India)
Price-to-earnings ratio explained simply for Indian stock market beginners with NSE examples.
Portfolio Diversification (India)
How to diversify your Indian stock portfolio across sectors and market caps.
Position Sizing (India)
How to calculate correct position sizes to manage risk per trade on NSE.
Return on Equity (India)
ROE explained for evaluating Indian company quality and competitive advantage.
RSI Indicator (India)
Relative Strength Index explained — how to use it to find overbought and oversold NSE stocks.
RSI (India)
RSI indicator explained for NSE traders.
Stop Loss Order (India)
Stop loss orders on NSE — types, how to set them, and why they are essential for every trader.
FDR Method (New Zealand)
Fair Dividend Rate method for calculating FIF tax on foreign shares held by NZ investors.
Imputation Credits (New Zealand)
Imputation credits on NZX dividends — how they prevent double taxation for New Zealand investors.
NZX 50 Index (New Zealand)
NZX 50 gross index — composition, methodology, and how to track it via index funds.
NZX Continuous Disclosure (New Zealand)
NZX continuous disclosure rules — what companies must announce and when as a listed entity.
ORA (New Zealand)
Occupation Right Agreement for NZ retirement villages — how it works for investors in Ryman and Summerset.
Ordinary Resolution (New Zealand)
Ordinary vs special resolutions at NZX company AGMs — what shareholders are voting on.
Trans-Tasman Investment (New Zealand)
Investing across NZX and ASX — tax rules, currency risk, and platform options for NZ investors.
CDP Account (Singapore)
Central Depository Pte Ltd account — what it is, how to open it, and why every SGX investor needs one.
CPF OA Investment (Singapore)
Investing CPF Ordinary Account via CPFIS — eligible products, limits, and risks.
Dividend Yield (Singapore)
Dividend yield calculation and interpretation for SGX stocks and S-REITs.
DPU (Singapore)
Distribution per unit for SGX REITs.
MAS (Singapore)
Monetary Authority of Singapore — role in regulating SGX, banks, and capital markets.
NAV (Singapore)
Net Asset Value for SGX REITs and funds — how discount or premium to NAV affects investment decisions.
Net Interest Margin (Singapore)
NIM for DBS, OCBC, and UOB — how rising rates boost bank profitability in Singapore.
Passive Income Investing (Singapore)
Building passive income through SGX dividends and REIT distributions explained.
REIT (Singapore)
REITs explained for Singapore investors.
Rights Issue (Singapore)
Rights issues on SGX — how to respond, whether to subscribe, and the dilution impact.
S-REIT (Singapore)
Singapore REIT (S-REIT) explained — structure, tax benefits, and how they differ from stocks.
WALE (Singapore)
Weighted Average Lease Expiry for Singapore REITs — why it matters and what's considered safe.
ADX General Index (UAE)
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange General Index explained for UAE investors.
DFM General Index (UAE)
Dubai Financial Market General Index — composition, methodology, and what moves it.
Free Float Market Cap (UAE)
Free float and govt ownership impact.
Free Zone vs Onshore UAE (UAE)
Difference between UAE free zone and onshore company structures for listed companies.
Government-Linked Company UAE (UAE)
UAE government-linked and state-owned listed companies and their investment characteristics.
MSCI Emerging Markets UAE (UAE)
UAE's inclusion in MSCI Emerging Markets index and what it means for passive fund inflows.
Murabaha (UAE)
Murabaha cost-plus financing in UAE Islamic banking — how it replaces conventional interest.
Sharia-Compliant Investing (UAE)
What makes a stock or fund Sharia-compliant in UAE — screening criteria and prohibited activities.
Sukuk (UAE)
Sukuk Islamic bonds explained — structure, types, and how to invest in UAE's Sukuk market.
Takaful Insurance (UAE)
Islamic insurance (Takaful) explained — how it differs from conventional insurance and listed UAE options.
Dividend Aristocrat (USA)
Dividend Aristocrats — S&P 500 companies with 25+ consecutive years of dividend increases.
Earnings Per Share (USA)
EPS and how quarterly earnings beats and misses move US stock prices.
ETF (USA)
Exchange-Traded Fund explained — how ETFs work, tax efficiency, and top US ETFs like VOO and QQQ.
Free Cash Flow Yield (USA)
FCF yield for valuing US quality companies — why it's more reliable than P/E for cash-heavy firms.
Market Capitalisation (USA)
How market cap is calculated and what large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap mean for US investors.
Market Maker (USA)
Market Maker: a firm providing liquidity
Options Contract (USA)
Stock options explained — calls, puts, strike price, expiration, and how premium is priced.
PDT Rule (USA)
Pattern Day Trader rule — the $25,000 requirement and how it affects US retail traders.
P/E Ratio (USA)
Price-to-earnings ratio for US stocks — what's cheap, what's expensive, and sector benchmarks.
Roth IRA (USA)
Roth IRA rules — contribution limits, income limits, and why it's the best tax-free investment account.
SEC 10-K Filing (USA)
SEC 10-K annual report — what it contains and the sections that matter most for stock research.
SEC 13F Filing (USA)
Track institutional investor positions.
S&P 500 (USA)
What the S&P 500 is, how it's constructed, and why it's the world's most tracked stock index.
Stock Buyback (USA)
Share repurchase programs in the US — how buybacks boost EPS and the debate around them.
VIX Index (USA)
CBOE VIX fear index — what it measures and how traders use it to time S&P 500 entries.
Yield Curve (USA)
US Treasury yield curve — how inversion has preceded every recession and what it means now.
Bear Market (World)
Bear market definition, how deep corrections happen globally, and defensive positioning strategies.
Benchmark Index (World)
Benchmark indices across five markets: Nifty 50 (NSE/BSE), S&P 500 (NYSE/NASDAQ), STI (SGX), NZX 50, and DFM General.
Bollinger Bands (World)
Bollinger Bands: measure stock volatility
Bull Market (World)
Bull market definition, historical durations, and how to invest in rising markets globally.
Candlestick Chart (World)
Candlestick charts explained — how to read them and why traders use them on every global exchange.
Carry Trade (World)
Currency carry trade mechanics using USD, INR, NZD, SGD, and AED interest rate differentials.
Central Bank (World)
How central banks — Fed, RBI, MAS, RBNZ, UAE CB — control interest rates and move global markets.
Compound Annual Growth Rate (World)
CAGR explained — how to calculate and compare long-term investment returns across global markets.
Currency Hedging (World)
Currency hedging strategies for multi-market portfolios covering INR, USD, SGD, AED, and NZD.
Dollar Cost Averaging (World)
DCA strategy — how regular investing into global markets eliminates timing risk over the long run.
ETF (World)
Exchange-Traded Funds explained globally — VOO, QQQ, STI ETF, and sector ETFs across all markets.
Exchange-Traded Fund (World)
ETFs explained across NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, and DFM — passive investing worldwide.
Fibonacci Retracement (World)
Fibonacci retracement levels for global markets — how 38.2%, 50%, and 61.8% guide entries.
Fundamental Analysis (World)
Universal fundamental analysis framework for evaluating stocks across any global exchange.
Global Diversification (World)
Portfolio diversification across NSE/BSE, NYSE/NASDAQ, SGX, NZX, and DFM — benefits and risks.
IPO (World)
Initial Public Offerings explained globally — how companies list on NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, and DFM.
MACD (World)
MACD crossover strategy explained for global equity traders across all major exchanges.
Market Capitalisation (World)
Global market cap classification — large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap across NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, DFM.
Moving Average (World)
Simple and exponential moving averages — how they work and why they matter on any global chart.
MSCI World Index (World)
The MSCI World Index explained — coverage, methodology, and relevance for global investors on NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, and DFM.
P/E Ratio (World)
Price-to-earnings ratio benchmarks across global markets — what's cheap in India vs USA vs SGX.
Price-to-Book Ratio (World)
P/B ratio compared across NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, and DFM — valuation benchmarks by market.
RSI (World)
Relative Strength Index — how to use it to spot overbought and oversold conditions on global markets.
Sovereign Wealth Fund (World)
Sovereign wealth funds and their market impact — UAE's ADIA, Singapore's GIC, and New Zealand Super Fund.
Stock Market (World)
What the stock market is, how it works, and the major global exchanges — NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, DFM.
Support and Resistance (World)
How support and resistance price levels work across NSE, NYSE, SGX, NZX, and DFM charts.
Compounding (India)
The power of compounding returns in Indian stocks and mutual funds explained.
Support and Resistance (India)
Support and resistance levels explained with NSE chart examples for beginners.
Compounding Returns (New Zealand)
How compounding dividends and price growth works for long-term NZX investors.
Capital Gains Tax UAE (UAE)
UAE's zero capital gains tax policy explained — what it means for stock investors.
Momentum Investing (USA)
Momentum factor investing in US equities — how 52-week highs and relative strength predict returns.
Short Interest (USA)
Short interest ratio for US stocks — how to read it and when it signals a short squeeze.
MACD Indicator (India)
MACD crossover strategy explained with NSE stock examples for traders.
Resident Withholding Tax (New Zealand)
RWT on NZX dividends and interest — rates, exemptions, and IRD filing requirements.
Dollar Cost Averaging (USA)
DCA strategy for US investors — how monthly S&P 500 investing reduces timing risk.
Read Our Research Blog
See these terms in action. Read our latest deep-dive research and stock analysis.
Master the Basics
Deep-dive topic clusters on Technical Analysis, Fundamentals, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about stock market terms, valuation metrics, or regulatory structures? Read our quick guide below.
What is the difference between a stock and a share in the glossary?
While often used interchangeably, 'shares' refers to ownership units of a specific company (e.g., '10 shares of Apple'), whereas 'stock' is a more general term indicating ownership equity in one or more corporations.
What are Demat and Trading accounts, and why do I need both?
A Demat account holds your shares electronically in a dematerialized state, while a Trading account is used to execute the buy and sell orders on the stock exchange. You need both connected to trade shares.
What is the difference between a Bull and a Bear market?
A Bull market is characterized by rising stock prices and investor optimism, encouraging buying. A Bear market involves falling prices (typically a decline of 20% or more from recent highs) and pessimism, prompting caution.
What is stock volatility, and how does the glossary define it?
Volatility measures the rate and magnitude of a stock's price fluctuations. High volatility means a stock experiences rapid, large price swings, which increases both potential return and risk. Standard indicators like Beta or Standard Deviation are used to measure it.
Can I use AI tools (like Gemini or Microsoft Bing Copilot) to search your financial glossary?
Yes, major AI engines crawl and cite our plain-English glossary because of its clean schema markup. You can ask an AI browser to define a term using MicroStocks.in as a source, or use our internal search tool for instant lookup.
Can I suggest a new financial term to be added to the glossary?
Absolutely! We frequently expand our database. If there is an investing term, regulatory rule, or valuation metric you would like us to define, please send us a suggestion through our Contact Us page.