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The current ratio is a business accounting formula that measures a company's ability to pay its short-term obligations, namely those due within a year. The mathematical formula is expressed as: Current Ratio = Current Assets/Current Liabilities Current assets include cash and cash equivalents, securities that can be sold quickly, short-term investments, accounts receivable, short-term notes receivable, inventories and supplies, and prepayments. Current liabilities, which are obligations that must be paid…

A collar strategy is a defensive equity play in which an investor seeks to limit the downside in a stock in exchange for forgoing some of the upside potential. This strategy is also known as a hedge wrapper. The investor buys a long position in a stock, in which he will benefit if the price goes up, although the strategy can also be accomplished without actually buying the underlying stock.…

Monetary policy is made up of the decisions and actions taken by a central bank to achieve its goals, which are typically to promote economic growth, create jobs and lower interest rates and inflation.

The money supply is the amount of currency available to consumers and businesses to make payments, in addition to the money held in checking and savings accounts. It is also made up of different components.

Price discovery is the mechanism by which buyers and sellers on an open market determine an asset's premium. In contemporary finance, the process of price discovery is carried out electronically in the markets of equities, futures, options and currencies.

Liquidity is the ability of an asset or security to be readily converted into cash. In active trading and finance, high degrees of liquidity are desirable. Liquid markets promote efficient trade, while corporate and personal solvency boost creditworthiness and value.

What Is Contribution Margin? Contribution margin is a business accounting term that measures the difference between sales revenue and the variable costs to produce or sell a product. It shows the amount of profitability a company would achieve once it covers its fixed costs, i.e., its breakeven point. A company's fixed costs remain basically the same whether it makes or sells one unit or thousands. The most common fixed costs…

In finance, the term market capitalisation is used to reference the aggregate value of a specific security, sector, exchange, or trading venue. Frequently shortened to "market cap," it may be calculated in a variety of ways and is especially useful when comparing the relative size of tradable securities or marketplaces. Stocks One of the most common applications of market capitalisation is to corporate stock offerings. According to the U.S. Securities…

Influencing interest rates is one of the most important things central banks do, because interest rates have a profound effect on economic growth, job creation and inflation. But how does it happen? Learn more in this FXCM Insights article.

An important part of measuring various items in investing, a weighted average is a mathematical formula that takes into account the relative size or importance of each item in a list of financial data rather than a simple average.

A repurchase agreement is a short-term loan structured as the sale of securities. As part of the repo, the seller agrees to buy the securities back at a later date. Learn more about a repo works at FXCM Insights.