A prolonged period characterised by falling investment prices. Often times, bear markets are associated with certain negative economic conditions, such as increasing unemployment rates and/or negative consumer sentiment. See bull market.

A benchmark is an index that reflects the condition of an overall market or sub-market group, such as industry groups or geographical groups. Benchmark indices are tools used for comparing the performance of other investments or markets. Examples include the DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE, DAX, NIKKEI, MSCI-World Index, Salomon Brothers World, and Government Bond Index.

A measure of how sensitive an investment portfolio is to market movements. The sign of the beta (+/-) indicates whether, on average, the portfolio's returns move in line with the market (+), or in the opposite direction (-) to the market. If the beta of a portfolio relative to a benchmark index is equal to +1, then the returns on the portfolio follow those of the index. By definition, the beta of that benchmark index is +1. A portfolio with a beta greater than +1 tends to amplify the overall movements of the market, while a portfolio with a beta between 0 and +1 tends to move in the same direction as the market but not to the same extent. A portfolio with a beta of -1 tends to move in the opposite direction to the market.

Blue chip is a term used to describe the stock of large, internationally known companies with solid earnings and/or dividends. In general, blue chips are considered very high quality stocks.

An interesting (yield) bearing government or corporate security that obliges the issuer to pay the bondholder a specified sum of money, usually at specific intervals, and to repay the principal amount of loan at maturity.
It can also be money or securities deposited as a pledge of good faith.

A prolonged period in which investment prices rise faster than their historical average is commonly referred to as a bull market. Opposite of: bear market