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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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Dividends

What is a Dividend and how does it work?

A dividend is a payment made by a company to its shareholders out of its profits. It's typically paid quarterly, with the amount of each dividend depending on how profitable the company is and how much the board of directors chooses to distribute. Dividends can be used as income or reinvested back into the company to purchase additional shares.

How many shares do you need to get dividends?
The exact number of shares you need to get dividends depends on the company's policy and dividend payout rate. Generally, owning at least one share qualifies you for receiving dividends.

Is a dividend a good thing for traders?
Yes. Dividends provide traders with regular income and the potential for capital gains if the dividend is reinvested into more shares. This can be beneficial to traders, as it can create a passive stream of income and add to their overall yeild.
 

Cash Dividends

What are Cash Dividends?

Cash dividends are defined as cash payments made by a company to its shareholders. These payments are made out of the company’s earnings, and they represent an important benefit to shareholders and investors. Once a company declares its intention to pay a cash dividend, it is paid to its shareholders based on the number of shares each of them hold. Most often Cash Dividends are paid to shareholders on specific calendar events, such as end of quarter or fiscal year. 

What's the difference between a stock dividend and a cash dividend?
One key difference difference between a stock dividend and a cash dividend is that a cash dividend is paid payment of cash dividends by a company to its shareholders requires using the company’s cash reserves. When paying dividends with Stock Dividends, a company will be issuing its own stock to its shareholders.

Is it better to pay a bonus or a dividend? 
It depends on the financial needs of the company. If a company needs funds to grow or expand its operations, then paying a bonus is better since it allows them to use profits without taking on debt. On the other hand, if a company has strong cash reserves and doesn't need additional funding for growth, paying out dividends is a good way to reward shareholders for their investment in the business. Ultimately, it's up to management to decide which option makes the most sense for their situation.

Ex-Dividend Date

What is an Ex-Dividend Date?

The term Ex-Dividend date refers to a cut-off date where shareholders buying shares from a company will not be eligible for upcoming dividends for those shares. 

Why is it important to know the ex-dividend date?
Knowing the ex-dividend date is important for investors as it determines whether they are eligible to receive the next dividend payment. On this day, stocks typically drop in price by an amount equal to the dividend paid, so understanding this date is essential for making informed decisions.

The Ex-Dividend Date is one of four dates relevant to a company’s dividends: The other three are:
• Declaration Date – When a company announces that it plans to issue dividends in the foreseeable future
• Record Date - When the dividend issuing company examines and closes its list of shareholders
• Payable Date - When the eligible shareholders are to be paid by the company 


What happens if I sell on ex-dividend date?
If you sell the stock on its ex-dividend date, you will not receive the next dividend. The buyer of the stock will receive the dividend and any capital gains, but you as the seller will miss out on this benefit.

Commodities

What is a Commodity?

commodity is a raw material asset such as oil, gas, gold, or wheat. Commodities can be categorised into either hard commodities or soft commodities. 

What are Soft Commodities?
Soft commodities typically refer to raw materials that are grown rather than mined such as coffee beans or sugar. 

What Are Hard Commodities?
Whereas hard commodities must be extracted such as natural gas or crude oil. 

A commodity is often exchangeable for other commodities of the same type and can be purchased through either the spot market using cash, or through derivatives like futures.

Trends

What are Trends in trading?

Trading trends refer to the overall direction of a security or market, often revealed through chart patterns or indicators. Traders use these trends to identify potential entry and exit points, as well as possible trading opportunities. Analyzing the financial markets in order to identify trends is an essential skill for successful traders. With knowledge of historical trends, investors can spot emerging ones and plan accordingly.

How do you identify a trend in trading?
Analyzing past market movements, changes in asset prices and economic data can be used to identify short-term and long-term trends. Using technical indicators such as moving averages, MACD, and stochastics can also help you spot potential trading opportunities and take advantage of prevailing market trends.

What are the 3 types of trends?
When analyzing the stock market, there are three primary trends that can be observed: short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term. Short-term trends generally last within one to three weeks, intermediate-term trends can range from one to four months, and long-term trends last more than a year. Being able to identify these different trend patterns will help investors maximize their potential returns. 

WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend

WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend (DLN) consists of the 300 largest companies ranked by market capitalisation from the WisdomTree Dividend Index. The Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of large-cap dividend-paying US companies.

The top ten stock holdings account for 26.76% of the index and include Microsoft, Apple, Exxon Mobil and Verizon Communications. Four sectors (Information Technology, HealthCare, Consumer Staples and Financials) account for 56.4% of the index’s holdings. This ETF is a good option for traders looking for exposure to large cap equity from dividend-paying companies.

WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend

The WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend ETF (DEM) tracks the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Dividend Index. The index is a fundamentally weighted index that is comprised of the highest dividend-yielding common stocks selected from the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Dividend Index. This provides it with some downside protection from market volatility.

DEM is an equity fund, and has a mix of market sectors. It includes stocks from key emerging markets such as Russia and China, with assets including China Contruction Bank, China Mobile and Norilsk Nickel.

Utilities Staples Select Sector Fund

Utilities Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) tracks US utilities companies within the S&P 500. This asset uses the Utilities Select Sector Index as its tracking benchmark. The fund is concentrated to just a few large firms, as the index comprises just 30 holdings from the utilities sector. This can be a pro or a con depending on your trading strategy.

Top holdings include Nextera Energy Inc, Duke Energy Corp, Dominion Energy Inc and Southern Co.

Gold Miners Bull 3X Daily Index

NUGT, also known as the Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 3x Shares, aims to deliver three times the daily return of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. This is a leveraged fund. It is designed for intraday trades and it is not recommended for periods of greater than one day.

The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a market-cap weighted index of public companies with global operations in developed and emerging markets. The companies in the index are primarily involved in gold mining, with some also involved in silver mining. Top holdings include Newmont Mining, Barrick Gold, Franco Nevada and Newcrest Mining. Canadian companies represent 52.14% of the asset.

RSI (Relative Strength Index)

What is an RSI (Relative Strength Index)?

RSI stands for Relative Strength Index and is a technical analysis indicator that measures the strength of a security's price action, by comparing the magnitude of recent gains to recent losses. The RSI ranges from 0 to 100, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions and values below 30 indicating oversold conditions. Traders often use the RSI as a buy or sell signal, depending on whether the RSI is above or below a certain level.


Is a higher RSI value better?
A higher RSI value generally indicates that a security is overbought, which means that it is trading at a relatively high price compared to its recent price history. Traders may interpret this as a signal to sell, or to be cautious about buying. Traditionally, an RSI value of 70 or above is considered to be overbought, and a value of 30 or below is considered to be oversold.
 

A-D

Dividends

What is a Dividend and how does it work?

A dividend is a payment made by a company to its shareholders out of its profits. It's typically paid quarterly, with the amount of each dividend depending on how profitable the company is and how much the board of directors chooses to distribute. Dividends can be used as income or reinvested back into the company to purchase additional shares.

How many shares do you need to get dividends?
The exact number of shares you need to get dividends depends on the company's policy and dividend payout rate. Generally, owning at least one share qualifies you for receiving dividends.

Is a dividend a good thing for traders?
Yes. Dividends provide traders with regular income and the potential for capital gains if the dividend is reinvested into more shares. This can be beneficial to traders, as it can create a passive stream of income and add to their overall yeild.
 

Cash Dividends

What are Cash Dividends?

Cash dividends are defined as cash payments made by a company to its shareholders. These payments are made out of the company’s earnings, and they represent an important benefit to shareholders and investors. Once a company declares its intention to pay a cash dividend, it is paid to its shareholders based on the number of shares each of them hold. Most often Cash Dividends are paid to shareholders on specific calendar events, such as end of quarter or fiscal year. 

What's the difference between a stock dividend and a cash dividend?
One key difference difference between a stock dividend and a cash dividend is that a cash dividend is paid payment of cash dividends by a company to its shareholders requires using the company’s cash reserves. When paying dividends with Stock Dividends, a company will be issuing its own stock to its shareholders.

Is it better to pay a bonus or a dividend? 
It depends on the financial needs of the company. If a company needs funds to grow or expand its operations, then paying a bonus is better since it allows them to use profits without taking on debt. On the other hand, if a company has strong cash reserves and doesn't need additional funding for growth, paying out dividends is a good way to reward shareholders for their investment in the business. Ultimately, it's up to management to decide which option makes the most sense for their situation.

Commodities

What is a Commodity?

commodity is a raw material asset such as oil, gas, gold, or wheat. Commodities can be categorised into either hard commodities or soft commodities. 

What are Soft Commodities?
Soft commodities typically refer to raw materials that are grown rather than mined such as coffee beans or sugar. 

What Are Hard Commodities?
Whereas hard commodities must be extracted such as natural gas or crude oil. 

A commodity is often exchangeable for other commodities of the same type and can be purchased through either the spot market using cash, or through derivatives like futures.

E-H

Ex-Dividend Date

What is an Ex-Dividend Date?

The term Ex-Dividend date refers to a cut-off date where shareholders buying shares from a company will not be eligible for upcoming dividends for those shares. 

Why is it important to know the ex-dividend date?
Knowing the ex-dividend date is important for investors as it determines whether they are eligible to receive the next dividend payment. On this day, stocks typically drop in price by an amount equal to the dividend paid, so understanding this date is essential for making informed decisions.

The Ex-Dividend Date is one of four dates relevant to a company’s dividends: The other three are:
• Declaration Date – When a company announces that it plans to issue dividends in the foreseeable future
• Record Date - When the dividend issuing company examines and closes its list of shareholders
• Payable Date - When the eligible shareholders are to be paid by the company 


What happens if I sell on ex-dividend date?
If you sell the stock on its ex-dividend date, you will not receive the next dividend. The buyer of the stock will receive the dividend and any capital gains, but you as the seller will miss out on this benefit.

Gold Miners Bull 3X Daily Index

NUGT, also known as the Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 3x Shares, aims to deliver three times the daily return of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. This is a leveraged fund. It is designed for intraday trades and it is not recommended for periods of greater than one day.

The NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index is a market-cap weighted index of public companies with global operations in developed and emerging markets. The companies in the index are primarily involved in gold mining, with some also involved in silver mining. Top holdings include Newmont Mining, Barrick Gold, Franco Nevada and Newcrest Mining. Canadian companies represent 52.14% of the asset.

I-L

M-P

Q-T

Trends

What are Trends in trading?

Trading trends refer to the overall direction of a security or market, often revealed through chart patterns or indicators. Traders use these trends to identify potential entry and exit points, as well as possible trading opportunities. Analyzing the financial markets in order to identify trends is an essential skill for successful traders. With knowledge of historical trends, investors can spot emerging ones and plan accordingly.

How do you identify a trend in trading?
Analyzing past market movements, changes in asset prices and economic data can be used to identify short-term and long-term trends. Using technical indicators such as moving averages, MACD, and stochastics can also help you spot potential trading opportunities and take advantage of prevailing market trends.

What are the 3 types of trends?
When analyzing the stock market, there are three primary trends that can be observed: short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term. Short-term trends generally last within one to three weeks, intermediate-term trends can range from one to four months, and long-term trends last more than a year. Being able to identify these different trend patterns will help investors maximize their potential returns. 

RSI (Relative Strength Index)

What is an RSI (Relative Strength Index)?

RSI stands for Relative Strength Index and is a technical analysis indicator that measures the strength of a security's price action, by comparing the magnitude of recent gains to recent losses. The RSI ranges from 0 to 100, with values above 70 indicating overbought conditions and values below 30 indicating oversold conditions. Traders often use the RSI as a buy or sell signal, depending on whether the RSI is above or below a certain level.


Is a higher RSI value better?
A higher RSI value generally indicates that a security is overbought, which means that it is trading at a relatively high price compared to its recent price history. Traders may interpret this as a signal to sell, or to be cautious about buying. Traditionally, an RSI value of 70 or above is considered to be overbought, and a value of 30 or below is considered to be oversold.
 

U-Z

WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend

WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Dividend (DLN) consists of the 300 largest companies ranked by market capitalisation from the WisdomTree Dividend Index. The Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of large-cap dividend-paying US companies.

The top ten stock holdings account for 26.76% of the index and include Microsoft, Apple, Exxon Mobil and Verizon Communications. Four sectors (Information Technology, HealthCare, Consumer Staples and Financials) account for 56.4% of the index’s holdings. This ETF is a good option for traders looking for exposure to large cap equity from dividend-paying companies.

WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend

The WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend ETF (DEM) tracks the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Dividend Index. The index is a fundamentally weighted index that is comprised of the highest dividend-yielding common stocks selected from the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Dividend Index. This provides it with some downside protection from market volatility.

DEM is an equity fund, and has a mix of market sectors. It includes stocks from key emerging markets such as Russia and China, with assets including China Contruction Bank, China Mobile and Norilsk Nickel.

Utilities Staples Select Sector Fund

Utilities Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) tracks US utilities companies within the S&P 500. This asset uses the Utilities Select Sector Index as its tracking benchmark. The fund is concentrated to just a few large firms, as the index comprises just 30 holdings from the utilities sector. This can be a pro or a con depending on your trading strategy.

Top holdings include Nextera Energy Inc, Duke Energy Corp, Dominion Energy Inc and Southern Co.

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