An arithmetic relationship of the total square feet of a building to the square footage of the land area, relevant in urban planning and zoning.
A floppy disk is a thin, flexible plastic disk with a magnetic coating, usually encased in rigid plastic, once popular for computer data storage and transfer. It has been largely supplaneously to compact discs, memory cards, and USB drives.
Flotation refers to the process of launching a public company for the first time by inviting the public to subscribe for its shares. This process is also known as 'going public'.
Flotation (Floatation) Cost refers to the expenses incurred by a company when it issues new stocks or bonds. These costs include underwriting fees, legal fees, registration fees, and other associated expenses.
Flotation costs refer to the expenses a company incurs when it issues new securities, including underwriting, legal, registration, and accounting fees. These costs are crucial for companies to consider when planning to raise capital through new stock or bond issues.
Flow of funds in economics refers to the way in which capital moves across various sectors of the economy, transferring from savings surplus units to savings deficit units through financial intermediaries.
A flowchart is a diagram representing the sequence of logical steps required to solve a problem. It uses conventional symbols to indicate processes and decisions.
Understanding fluctuation is crucial within the realms of finance, economics, and business operations. It encapsulates the variability seen in prices, interest rates, and broader economic indicators, often influencing decision-making processes for investors, businesses, and policymakers.
A fluctuation limit is a boundary placed by commodity exchanges on the daily price movements of futures contracts. Once a commodity reaches this limit, no further trading can occur for that day.
Originally referred to a swindler who fled hurriedly from a business situation after their modus operandi (MO) had been discovered by the locals; now refers to a shady business, often operating out of a post office box or accommodation address, that cannot be located when its merchandise or product proves unsatisfactory.
A Fly-Out Menu is a secondary menu that appears to the side when you click a menu item, often used to enhance navigation on websites and software applications.
A transportation term indicating that the price includes delivery at the seller's expense to a specified point and no further.
A focus group is a form of market research where a small group of people, usually 5-10, is asked about their attitudes toward a product, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. This detailed feedback helps in improving or tailoring products to market needs.
A focused factory is a form of production operation limited to a very small number of products aimed at a specific target market. This approach necessitates a smaller investment and facilitates the development of greater expertise compared to a more diversified manufacturing operation.
A Folder is a digital metaphor used to organize files on a computer, similar to how physical folders organize documents in a file cabinet. Initially termed directories in DOS, the nomenclature was later adopted by Windows 95 and subsequent versions.
A follow-up letter is a sales letter sent to someone who has made an inquiry, inviting them to make a purchase. It is part of the inquiry conversion process, often used for high-value items such as automobiles or insurance policies.
A font refers to the set of characters in one size and style of a typeface. For example, Garamond is a typeface, while 14-point Garamond Italic is a font.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services responsible for protecting and promoting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an administrative agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that regulates the safety and quality of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical devices.
The bottom margin of a printed document, which repeats on every page and can include text, pictures, automatic consecutive page numbers, date, and time according to a specific computer program.
In accounting, 'footing' refers to the process of totaling a column of numbers to ensure accuracy in financial statements. This fundamental task is essential in maintaining the integrity of financial data.
An explanatory narrative and numerical data that follows the financial statements of a company and is integrally related to them.
The term 'For Your Information' (FYI) serves as a common prefix in memos and finance, often indicating that no action is required on the contents or that a quote is not a firm offer to trade at that price.
A for-profit corporation is a business entity established with the primary goal of earning profit for its shareholders. Unlike non-profit organizations, for-profit corporations operate to generate financial returns for their owners.
Forbearance is a situation where a lender decides not to exercise its legal right to foreclose on a property when a borrower defaults. Instead, the lender opts to renegotiate the terms of the loan to offer temporary relief to the borrower.
Force majeure refers to unforeseen and unavoidable events that prevent or delay the fulfillment of contractual obligations.
A forced sale is an urgent sale of assets, typically conducted under significant pressure or compulsion, where the seller has limited opportunity to obtain a fair market value. Examples include sales conducted through foreclosure, bankruptcy, or instances of duress.
Forced saving occurs when consumers are restricted from spending all their income on current consumption. This can be self-imposed, contractually obligated, or enforced by government policy.
Forecast Reporting involves the inclusion of projected figures within a company's annual accounts and reports, such as future sales numbers, to provide an estimated vision of potential performance and growth.
Forecasting involves estimating future trends. Stock market forecasters try to predict the direction of the stock market by relying on technical data of trading activity and fundamental statistics on the direction of the economy. Economic forecasters attempt to predict the strength of the economy, utilizing complex econometric models to make specific predictions of future levels of inflation, interest rates, and employment.
An overview of the legal process where a lender seeks to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower who has stopped making payments by forcing the sale of the property used as collateral for the loan.
Foreign companies are corporations or businesses that are registered, operate, or have authorization to conduct commercial activities in a country other than their country of origin. These entities are important players in the global economy and international trade.
A foreign company, or overseas company, is a company incorporated outside the UK but has a subsidiary or established place of business within the UK. These companies are subject to provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to registration, accounts, constitution, directors, name, etc.
A foreign corporation is a legal entity that is registered outside the state or country in which it primarily conducts business. It is important to distinguish between out-of-state corporations and alien corporations.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a United States legislation enacted in 1977 designed to prevent bribery and corruption by U.S. companies in their overseas operations. A 1998 amendment extended its scope to include actions by foreign citizens and companies while on U.S. territory.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a United States law enacted in 1977 aimed at preventing the bribery of foreign officials to obtain or retain business. It mandates accounting transparency requirements and imposes internal controls and disclosure requirements.
Foreign currency refers to the currency of another country, which is not used in the preparation of an organization’s domestic accounts. This term is important in financial reporting for organizations with international transactions or operations.
A mechanism whereby an exchange rate can be calculated between two currencies for which no direct rate of exchange exists. The US dollar, which is customarily used as the vehicle currency in foreign-exchange trading, functions as the common denominator for such calculations.
Foreign Currency Translation is the process of expressing amounts denominated in one currency in terms of another currency using the exchange rate between the currencies. Assets and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate as of the balance sheet date, while income statement items are typically translated at the weighted-average exchange rate for the period.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) refers to the investment made by a foreign entity into a business or production in another country. This often involves acquiring control or significant ownership of a company in the target country.
Foreign emoluments refer to earnings received by a person domiciled outside the UK from employment with a non-resident employer.
An in-depth look at the foreign exchange market, commonly known as FOREX or FX, where currencies are traded.
A highly liquid global marketplace for currency trading. The foreign exchange market includes both the spot market for immediate transactions and the forward market for future transactions.
A foreign exchange rate is the price of a nation's currency in units of another currency, indicating how much one currency is worth in terms of another.
Foreign income refers to any income that is generated from sources outside the United States. It is important for individuals and businesses, particularly those with international investments and operations, to understand the various regulations and tax implications associated with foreign income.
Foreign investment refers to the investments made by citizens or governments of one country into the industries of another country, including investments within a country by foreigners. The income tax treatment of foreign investment income is often governed by tax treaties between the country of the investment owner and the country where the investment is located.
The Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) is a credit allowed against U.S. income taxes for foreign taxes paid on income earned overseas. It helps to mitigate the double taxation of income that is taxable both in the U.S. and by a foreign country.
The Foreign Tax Deduction allows individuals to deduct foreign income taxes paid or accrued from their U.S. income tax, or alternatively, apply the taxes as a credit against U.S. income tax liabilities.
The Foreign Trade Multiplier is a concept in economics that measures the increase in a country's GDP due to efficiencies and interconnections of foreign trade activities. It demonstrates how trade can amplify economic growth by leveraging the comprehensive benefits of exporting and importing.
A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is a designated, enclosed area near a port where goods can be stored, inspected, packaged, or undergo other processes without the assessment of duties or customs fees.
A foreign-exchange dealer is an individual or entity engaged in the buying and selling of foreign currency, often working at a commercial bank or financial institution. Their role includes executing currency trades on behalf of clients, managing foreign exchange risks, and sometimes speculating on future currency movements.
A forensic accountant is a professional who applies accounting principles, theories, and discipline to uncover facts and hypotheses relevant to legal disputes. They integrate investigative and accounting skills to analyze financial statements and numbers.
Forensic accounting involves using accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to conduct an examination of a company's financial statements for use in legal proceedings or to uncover fraud.
Forfaiting is a form of debt discounting for exporters in which a forfaiter accepts at a discount, and without recourse, a promissory note, bill of exchange, letter of credit, etc., received from a foreign buyer by an exporter. This enables exporters to receive payment without risk at the cost of a discount.
The losses or additional charges imposed on an individual or entity for failing to meet specific obligations or conditions in a financial or contractual agreement.
In the context of a pension or a profit-sharing plan, forfeitable benefits are those in which a participant has no ownership rights until specific length-of-service or performance requirements for vesting have been met.
A partly paid share in a company that the shareholder must forfeit due to failure to pay a subsequent or final payment. Such shares must either be sold or canceled by a public company, whereas a private company is not regulated in this respect.
Forfeiture refers to the permanent loss of property for failure to comply with the law, resulting in the divestiture of the title of property, without compensation, for a default or an offense.
The legal offence of making a false instrument intending it to be accepted as genuine, causing harm to others. Under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, an instrument may be a document or device on which information is recorded.
Form 10-K is a comprehensive report filed annually with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by publicly traded companies in the United States. It includes audited financial statements and additional detailed information that generally exceeds the data offered in the annual report to stockholders.
Form 10-Q is a quarterly report mandated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing a comprehensive overview of a company's financial performance for the quarter.
Form 10-Q is a quarterly report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that gives a comprehensive overview of the company’s financial performance during the quarter.
An overview of the various forms used for individual U.S. income tax returns, including Form 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ, their specific requirements, and use cases.
A U.S. tax form used by partnerships and joint ventures for reporting income, deductions, gains, losses, and informational items.
U.S. tax form used by payers to report various types of income other than wages, salaries, and tips. Examples include interest, dividends, royalties, capital gains, and miscellaneous income.
U.S. corporate income tax return, generally required to be filed by March 15 of each year.
Form 20-F is the required Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) form for non-US companies to file annual results, ensuring transparency and compliance with US regulations.
Form 8-K is a report filed by publicly traded companies with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to announce significant corporate events that shareholders and the SEC should know about.
Form Utility refers to the enhancement of a product's marketability through changes to its physical characteristics, making it more useful to consumers.
The method of presenting financial statements chosen by an organization. Incorporated bodies must use the formats prescribed by relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, such as the Companies Act, for their balance sheet and profit and loss account.
Formation expenses pertain to the costs incurred in establishing a company. As mandated by the Companies Act, they should not be recorded as an asset of the company.
A former buyer is a customer who has not made any additional purchases within a specified period of time, typically a year. Former buyers are generally better prospects for additional sales than non-buyers because they have shown a willingness and ability to buy.
Formula investing is an investment technique grounded in a predetermined timing or asset allocation model that eliminates emotional decisions from the investment process. By following a systematic, rule-based strategy, formula investing aims to mitigate the influence of market sentiment and human emotions in making investment decisions. The approach often involves specific triggers or conditions under which investments are adjusted, rebalanced, or reallocated.
FORTRAN (Formula Translation) is a high-level computer programming language developed by IBM in the late 1950s. It was the first programming language that allowed programmers to express calculations through mathematical formulas.
A fortuitous loss is a loss occurring by accident or chance, not by anyone's intention, and is covered under insurance policies that provide protection against unpredictable, uncontrollable events.
An annual listing by Fortune magazine of the 500 largest U.S. industrial (manufacturing) corporations, including both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing companies.
An online discussion platform where peers can exchange ideas, seek support, and collaborate on specific subjects. These forums are often hosted by organizations or service providers to foster community interaction and problem-solving.
Forward buying is a retail practice of purchasing more inventory than immediately needed to take advantage of special discounts or trade allowances, thereby aiming to increase profits.
A forward contract involves the actual purchase or sale of a specified quantity of a commodity, government security, foreign currency, or other financial instrument at a price agreed upon now, with delivery and settlement at a future specified date.
Forward dealing involves transactions in commodities, securities, currencies, freight, etc., for future delivery at a price agreed upon at the time the contract is made. This type of trading enables dealers and manufacturers to hedge future requirements.
The forward differential, often linked to forward points, is a crucial concept in foreign exchange (FX) markets, influencing currency forward contracts pricing.
The rate of interest that will apply to a loan or deposit beginning on a future date and maturing on a second future date. It is a crucial concept in financial markets for managing interest rate risk.
In the context of shipping, 'forward' refers to the act of sending a package or goods from one location to another. This often involves redirecting items to a new address when the original address is not suitable for delivery.
Forward integration is a type of vertical integration strategy employed by companies to gain control over the direct distribution or supply chain of their products.
Forward Integration is a business strategy that involves a company expanding its operations to include control over its direct distribution or supply chain. This often means moving closer to the consumer by acquiring or establishing its retail outlets.
Forward margin, also referred to as forward points, is an essential concept in the foreign exchange market, reflecting the difference between the spot rate and the forward rate for a currency pair.
Forward P/E is a valuation measure used by investors to gauge the price of a company's stock relative to its expected earnings per share over the next 12 months.
The amount to be added to or deducted from the spot foreign-exchange rate to calculate the forward exchange rate.
Forward pricing is a method of pricing used by open-end investment companies, where the share price is determined by the net asset value (NAV) of the outstanding shares, and all incoming buy and sell orders are based on the next NAV calculation.
The forward slash (/) is a character commonly used in both written language and computer programming to separate sections of text, denote fractions, and play various pivotal roles in different computer languages.
Forward stock refers to the merchandise carried in the selling areas of a retail store that is not accessible to the patrons, for items that require protection or controlled access, such as perfume, jewelry, and cameras.
A forward-exchange market is a segment of the foreign-exchange market where currencies are traded for delivery at a specific date in the future. This market is used to hedge against the risk of currency fluctuations.
Forward-looking statements in annual reports and other financial communications are based on management's forward-thinking perspectives, subject to assumptions, estimates, and projections. They aim to provide insights under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, emphasizing that actual outcomes may differ materially.
A forward-rate agreement (FRA) is a contractual agreement between two parties that determines the rate of interest to be paid/ranked on a future loan or deposit. This financial instrument allows parties to lock in interest rates for future transactions, providing a hedge against interest rate fluctuations.
A forwarding company, also known as a freight forwarder, is a business entity that arranges the shipment of goods on behalf of individuals or companies. They handle the logistics of transporting goods, including documentation and customs clearance.
A Foul Bill of Lading is a document issued by a carrier indicating that the goods being shipped were found to be damaged or short in quantity upon loading.
The shares issued to the founders of a company, often carrying special dividend rights and voting rights, offering an incentive for sustained involvement and control by the original founders.
The Four Ps of Marketing represent the essential components of a successful marketing strategy: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Developed by E. Jerome McCarthy, these elements help businesses address choices about what products or services to produce, pricing strategies, distribution channels, and promotional tactics.
The Fourth Company Law Directive, also known as the Fourth Accounting Directive, was an EU directive established in 1978 to harmonize company law and accounting practices among EU member states.
The fourth market involves the direct trading of large blocks of securities between institutional investors, bypassing brokers to save on commissions.
