Sensitivity training is a method of laboratory training where an unstructured group of individuals exchange thoughts and feelings on a face-to-face basis. Sensitivity training helps give insight into how and why others feel the way they do on issues of mutual concern.
Measures of the bullish or bearish mood of investors. Many technical analysts look at these indicators as contrary indicators; that is, when most investors are bullish, the market is about to drop, and when most are bearish, the market is about to rise.
A SEP-IRA (Simplified Employee Pension) is a retirement savings plan designed for self-employed individuals and small business owners, allowing them to make contributions toward their own and their employees' retirement savings.
Separable assets and liabilities refer to the specific assets and liabilities of a business that can be clearly distinguished from other assets and liabilities. This distinction is crucial when assessing the financial health of a company or when conducting valuations, such as during a merger or acquisition.
A 'Separate (Tax) Return' refers to the option for married couples to file their tax returns individually rather than jointly, which may offer different tax benefits and considerations.
Separate property refers to assets acquired by either spouse before marriage or through gift or inheritance after marriage in community property states.
An election available before April 1990, in which both parties to a marriage agreed to treat the wife's earnings separately from the husband's, usually as a means of reducing tax. Salaries and other income of spouses have been taxed separately since April 1990 in many jurisdictions, providing a fair and independent taxation system.
The Separate-Entity Concept is a fundamental principle in accounting that treats a business as distinct and separate from its owners and other entities, ensuring clear financial accountability and reporting.
A Separately Managed Account (SMA) is a professionally managed portfolio of securities that uses pooled money to buy investments owned directly by the account holder. SMAs, also known as separate accounts, individually managed accounts, or managed accounts, are usually marketed by broker-dealers who select money managers, or subadvisors, for clients from a curated list.
The separation of service refers to the action of an employee severing their connection with an employer, which may occur through resignation, termination, retirement, or layoff.
In process costing, the separation point, also known as the split-off point, is where by-products or joint products emerge and begin their independent processing paths.
Order of occurrence; process or fact of following in order. A preconceived arrangement or pattern guiding the execution of steps within a system, event, or process.
A serial bond is a bond issue, usually of a municipality, with various maturity dates scheduled at regular intervals until the entire issue is retired. Each bond certificate in the series has an indicated redemption date.
Serial bonds are a type of bond issue where parts of the total amount mature at different intervals over a period, rather than all at once on one maturity date. This structure allows issuers to spread out the repayment burden and provides investors with a series of maturing investments over time.
A problem that arises in regression analysis involving time series data when successive values of the random error term are not independent. This implies that an important variable has not been identified. Same as autocorrelation.
A serial printer is a type of printing device that connects to a computer's serial port, using a communication protocol to send data interspersed with timing signals for printing documents.
Serial transmission refers to the process of sending data one bit at a time over a single wire or communication channel. It is commonly used to link computers to terminals, microcomputers to printers, and various other devices, especially those that operate at relatively slow data transfer rates.
Series bonds are a group of bonds issued at different times with different maturities but under the same indenture.
Series E Bonds were savings bonds issued by the U.S. government from 1941 to 1979. They were generally issued at 75% of their face value and matured at par based on interest rates, ceasing to accrue interest after 40 years.
A Series EE Bond is a type of U.S. government savings bond that earns a fixed interest rate for up to 30 years and is guaranteed to double in value if held for 20 years.
U.S. government bond that was available in denominations ranging from $500 to $10,000, primarily issued in exchange for Series E or EE bonds. The last issue date was August 31, 2004.
Series I Bonds are accrual-type securities designed for investors seeking to protect the purchasing power of their investment and earn a guaranteed real rate of return. They are characterized by inflation-indexed earnings that adjust over time.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is a governmental agency established in 1987 that investigates and prosecutes serious or complex fraud and corruption cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Operating as part of the UK criminal justice system, the SFO handles cases that go straight to the Crown Court without a committal for trial.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is a specialized government department in the United Kingdom dedicated to investigating and prosecuting serious or complex fraud, bribery, and corruption.
SERPS is an abbreviation for the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme, which was a UK government pension scheme designed to provide an additional level of pension income based on an individual's earnings.
A server is a computer system that provides resources, data, services, or programs to other computers, known as clients, over a network.
An economic good consisting of human worth in the form of labor, advice, managerial skill, etc., rather than a commodity. Services to trade include banking, insurance, transport, etc. Professional services encompass the advice and skill of accountants, lawyers, architects, business consultants, doctors, etc. Consumer services include those given by caterers, cleaners, mechanics, plumbers, etc. Industry may be divided into extractive, manufacturing, and service sectors. The service industries make up an ever-increasing proportion of the national income.
A service bureau is a service business that makes its resources, such as computers and skilled personnel, available to others for a fee. They provide various services including merge/purge, list maintenance, and fulfillment services. By leveraging economies of scale, service bureaus can offer these services at a lower cost than individual users could achieve on their own.
A service business is a form of business that provides various types of labor services in a wide variety of business sectors, aiming to fulfill specific customer needs.
A service club is an organization dedicated to providing various services to its members and the community. Notable examples include the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, and Masonic lodges.
A service contract is a legally binding agreement between an employer and a director or other very senior employee, outlining terms of employment, responsibilities, and protections for both parties.
SCORE, formerly known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, is a nonprofit organization that provides free mentoring, resources, and education to small business owners across the United States.
Learn about the concept of a Service Cost Centre in accounting, an essential element in the absorption costing process used for allocating or apportioning costs to support and maintain production processes.
A service department, also known as a service cost centre, is a division within an organization that provides essential services to other departments but does not directly produce goods. These departments indirectly contribute to the organization's overall productivity by supporting operating departments.
A service economy is an economic structure where the majority of activities and jobs are centered around services rather than manufacturing, agriculture, or extraction. In such economies, the service sector dominates, offering various non-tangible goods such as healthcare, information technology, education, finance, and entertainment.
A service fee is a payment made by an advertiser to an advertising agency for the services rendered.
Service potential refers to the extent to which an asset helps an entity achieve its objectives, especially in non-cash generating contexts. This term is commonly used in the public sector and not-for-profit organizations.
The service sector is a crucial part of the economy, encompassing businesses that provide services rather than tangible goods. This sector is significant for employment creation and contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Service workers are employees who work in the service sector of the economy, representing a rapidly growing employment category as manufacturing jobs decline in the United States. These workers are often the least represented by unions.
Servicing generally refers to the regular maintenance and routine repairs to equipment. In finance, servicing encompasses the act of billing, collecting payments, and filing reports on a loan. This process is crucial for maintaining the operational and financial stability of both physical assets and financial instruments.
A set-aside is a policy where a percentage of a job or contract is reserved exclusively for minority businesses. This measure aims to foster the growth and establishment of minority firms by providing them with opportunities that would be challenging to secure in an open competitive environment against more established competitors.
An agreement between the parties involved to offset one debt against another or one loss against a gain. Commonly used in banking to balance credit and debit balances across different accounts.
The time taken to prepare a machine, process, or operation to carry out production. It may involve such operations as tool setting, calibration, and the initialization of the production process.
Setback refers to both a specified distance from a curb or property line which restricts the erection of buildings, and to problems in business or manufacturing that lead to lower profits or delays in achieving targets.
Setoff refers to a counterclaim put forth by the defendant against the plaintiff, often diminishing the amount recoverable by the plaintiff by considering an independent cause of action.
The term 'settle' generally refers to paying an obligation. In legal contexts, it pertains to resolving a dispute short of adjudication or arranging for the disposition of property. In the realm of securities, it means completing a trade between brokers or between a broker and a customer.
Settled property refers to property that is included in an interest-in-possession trust, where beneficiaries have the right to benefit from the property during their lifetime.
In various contexts, the term 'settlement' refers to different but related processes involving the distribution, resolution, or agreement on various matters such as estates, legal disputes, or real estate transactions.
A set of statutory provisions under which income arising from property that has been gifted is taxed as if it were income of the donor and not of the donee.
Settlement costs, also known as closing costs, refer to the expenses and fees associated with the finalization of a real estate transaction. These costs can include a range of payments required to transfer ownership from the seller to the buyer.
The term 'Settlement Date' refers to the specific date on which a transaction is finalized and the respective assets are transferred between the buyer and the seller. This term is relevant in various domains such as real estate and securities trading.
Settlement day refers to the date on which trades are officially cleared through the delivery of the securities or foreign exchange, finalizing the transaction.
A Settlement Statement is a detailed document that outlines the funds payable by each party involved in a real estate transaction, showing how these funds are distributed.
A settlor is the person in a trust relationship who creates or intentionally causes the trust to come into existence. Other terms used to designate this person include donor, trustor, and grantor.
Costs associated with establishing a new manufacturing procedure. Setup costs include design costs, acquisition and location of machinery, and employee hiring and training.
A directive approved by the European Commission in 1983 and implemented in the UK by the Companies Act 1989, which governs consolidated financial statements prepared by corporate groups. Superseded by the Company Reporting Directive of 2006.
Several liability is a legal concept in which multiple parties can be held independently responsible for their own specified obligations or debts in a contractual agreement.
Ownership of real property held individually, separate from co-owners or other entities.
Severance benefits are stipulated funds or compensation provided to employees who are terminated or laid off from a company.
Severance damages represent compensation awarded to property owners when a portion of their property is condemned and taken for public use. These damages account for the depreciation in value or inconvenience caused to the remaining property.
Severance pay is an income bridge provided by some employers for employees transitioning from employment to unemployment. The amount is negotiable and taxable in the year received.
Severe long-term restrictions impede a holding company's ability to exercise its rights over the assets or management of a subsidiary undertaking. Such restrictions are grounds for excluding a subsidiary from consolidation and treating it as a fixed-asset investment.
A sewer is a system of pipes, containment areas, and treatment facilities designed for the disposal of waste and the containment of rainwater. This infrastructure plays a crucial role in maintaining public health and environmental quality by efficiently managing sewage and stormwater.
Sex stereotyping involves attributing specific traits, behaviors, abilities, or roles to individuals based on their sex or gender. This phenomenon can manifest in various aspects of life, such as employment, credit ratings, consumer behavior, and more. It is a form of prejudice that places expectations and limitations on individuals simply because of their sex, often resulting in discrimination and unequal treatment.
Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome and often intimidating verbal or physical sexual advances. It often carries threats of employment reprisals if such advances are refused and has been defined by federal government and courts as illegal employment discrimination.
The Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (SFAC) is a set of guidelines that provides a framework for the creation, presentation, and interpretation of financial reports prepared by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Shadow Advance Corporation Tax (Shadow ACT) refers to the system that applied to any unrelieved surplus Advance Corporation Tax (ACT) on 6 April 1999, when ACT was abolished. It preserved the right to carry forward surplus ACT without reducing the corporation tax liability for periods after 6 April 1999.
A shadow director is an individual whose directions, typically, the board of directors of a company follow, although this individual is not officially appointed as a director. Certain legal provisions, particularly those under the Companies Act, hold shadow directors accountable in similar ways to formally appointed directors.
The shadow price represents the change in the optimal value of the objective function for a linear programming problem per unit increase in the right-hand side of a constraint.
A shakedown is a trial run conducted before placing a procedure, application, or service into operational use. This process is employed to identify and resolve potential problems or 'bugs.'
A shakeout is a market phenomenon where weaker or marginally financed participants are eliminated due to changing market conditions. In financial markets, it often results in speculators being forced to sell their positions, typically at a loss.
A shakeup refers to a rapid and significant change in the management and structure of an organization. It is often intended to redirect the organization's path, often following a period of stress or underperformance.
A bond issued in a primary market at a price exceeding 90% of its face value, meaning the discount does not surpass 10%. Such bonds are typically seen as less risky compared to more deeply discounted bonds.
A transaction intended to create the appearance of rights and obligations different from the actual intended agreements to deceive other parties, often tax authorities.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is the principal stock market of the People's Republic of China, established in its contemporary form in 1990. As the fifth-largest stock exchange globally by market capitalization, it plays a crucial role in Chinese and international finance. The main indicator is the SSE Composite Index.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world, located in Shanghai, China. It plays a pivotal role in China's capital markets and offers a platform for securities trading, including stocks, bonds, and derivatives.
A Share Broker, also known as a Stock Broker, is a professional who buys and sells stocks, bonds, and other securities on behalf of clients, typically in exchange for a fee or commission. Share brokers have extensive knowledge of the financial markets and help clients make informed investment decisions.
Share capital is a crucial component of a company's finances, received from its owners or shareholders in exchange for shares. It represents the equity funding that a company relies on to conduct its operations and grow.
A share certificate is a document that provides evidence of ownership of shares in a company. It details the number and class of shares owned by the shareholder, the serial number of the shares, and usually includes signatures from at least one director and the company secretary.
A Share Incentive Plan (SIP) is a tax-advantaged share scheme introduced by the British government to encourage employee ownership in participating companies. Under such a plan, a trustee acquires and holds shares for the benefit of employees, providing significant tax advantages under predetermined conditions.
A Share Incentive Plan (SIP) is a tax-advantaged employee share scheme that allows employees to purchase or receive shares in the company they work for, promoting employee ownership and aligning their interests with shareholders.
A share incentive scheme is a program designed to reward employees with company shares upon reaching certain performance targets, fostering ownership and motivation within the workforce.
Share of market refers to the percentage of sales a company or product holds within a specific market relative to its competitors. It's a key indicator of competitive positioning and business performance.
Share of mind refers to the level of awareness or recognition that a brand has among consumers, relative to competitors. It is a critical measure in marketing that indicates how well a brand occupies the consumer's mind when they think of a specific product or service category.
A share option is a benefit often offered to employees that provides them the opportunity to purchase company shares at a favorable fixed price or discounted market rate. This guide explores the definition, examples, FAQs, related terms, and additional resources.
Share premium is the amount payable for shares in a company that is issued by the company itself, in excess of their nominal value. The premium received must be credited to a share premium account, which is restricted in use and cannot be utilized for paying dividends to shareholders.
A share premium account records the amount received by a company over and above the par value of its shares. Such balances are used for specific purposes under regulatory stipulations.
A share register, also known as a register of members, is an official record kept by a company that details the names and addresses of the shareholders and the number of shares they hold.
Share splitting involves dividing the share capital of a company into smaller units. This practice usually aims to make shares more affordable and increase their liquidity in the market.
A share transfer refers to the change in ownership of a share or stock, where the process is carried out electronically in modern brokerage systems.
A share warrant is a financial instrument that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to purchase company stock at a specified price before a warrant expiration date.
A share-based payment transaction involves the consideration for goods or services paid in equity instruments (like shares or share options) or payment based on their value. These can be equity-settled, cash-settled, or offer a choice between equity and cash, as per certain financial standards.
A sharecropper is a tenant farmer who works the land for the owner of the property. Sharecroppers traditionally receive seed, tools, and other necessities, often including housing, from the landlord. Sharecroppers are usually paid a portion of the proceeds from the harvested crop.
A Shared-Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) is a residential loan characterized by a fixed interest rate set below market rates. The lender is entitled to a specified share of the appreciation in property value over a specified time interval.
A specialized home loan arrangement where the lender is granted a share of the equity in the property, allowing them to participate in the proceeds from its resale.
A shareholder, also known as a stockholder, is an individual or entity that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders are entitled to certain rights, such as voting on corporate matters and receiving dividends, if distributed.
Shareholder debt refers to the financial obligations incurred by a company to its shareholders, where interest paid on this debt is tax-deductible. It is commonly used in highly leveraged funding arrangements typically associated with private equity firms.
An approach to business planning that prioritizes maximizing the value of shares for shareholders above other business objectives.
A method for valuing the entire equity in a company, based on the net present value of future cash flows. Developed by Alfred Rappaport in the 1980s, Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) emphasizes the time value of money and focuses on future performance rather than past accounting records.
Shareholder Value Analysis (SVA) is a financial management method that focuses on increasing the value delivered to shareholders through strategic decision-making and performance evaluation.
