A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
H
Hard Landing
- Occurs when
economic growth slows to a recession.
Hardship
Withdrawals
- Because employee withdrawals from a 401(k) plan may jeopardize the
tax-deferred status of the plan, companies are very strict about
allowing employees to withdraw the money. Money may be withdrawn for
specified hardship situations, such as the need to pay medical
expenses or a dependent's college tuition. Money withdrawn from a
401(k) plan before an employee is age 59 1/2 is subject to a 10%
penalty and taxation.
Head &
Shoulders
- In technical analysis, a chart formation in which a stock price
reaches a peak preceded and followed by smaller peaks at the
resistance point of a stock cycle, or reaches a valley preceded and
followed by smaller valleys at the support point of a stock cycle.
These formations normally indicate a trend reversal. Head and
Shoulders formations get their names from their similar appearance
to a human head and shoulders.
Hedge - To reduce the risk in one security by taking an offsetting position in a
related security.
Hedge
Fund - A
fund, usually used by wealthy individuals and institutions, that is
allowed to use aggressive strategies that are unavailable to most
mutual funds.
HH Savings Bonds - A savings bond that pays semiannual coupon interest, unlike EE
savings bonds.
High
- The highest closing price of a stock over the past 52 weeks,
adjusted for any stock splits.
High-Tech Stock - Companies whose business is in high
technology fields such as biotechnology, computers and robotics. High-tech
companies that are successful may have above average earnings growth and
volatile stock prices.
High-Yield ("Junk") Bond
- A bond with a speculative credit rating of BB (S&P) or Ba
(Moody's) or lower is a high-yield bond. These bonds offer higher
yields for investors compared to bonds of financially sound
companies. Two agencies, Standard & Poor's and Moody's, provide the
ratings systems for companies' credit.
Historical Yield -
Refers to an investment's actual return from income over a given
period measured from the beginning of the period.
Holder of Record - Owner of a company's securities that
is recorded on the books of the issuing company or its transfer agent as of
a specific date--called the "record date." For example, dividend
and stock splits always specify whether they are payable to holders as of
the record date.
Holding Company
- A corporation that owns enough voting stock in another firm to
control management and operations by influencing or electing its
board of directors.
Holding Period - A time period signifying how long a
security is possessed by the owner. It starts the day after a
purchase and ends on the day of sale.
Home
Equity -
The difference between a property's market value and any outstanding
loans for which the property serves as collateral. Home equity can
often represent collateral for future loans or can be used to create
a retirement fund once the home is sold.
House Maintenance Call - Demand to the customer for additional funds from the
brokerage firm because the equity in the customer’s margin account has fallen below
the minimum amount allowed by the firm.
House Requirement - The minimum amount of equity brokerage firms require margin
clients to maintain in the account.
House Rules - Securities industry term for an
individual brokerage firm's internal rules, policies and procedures
regarding the opening and management of clients' accounts and the clients'
activities in such accounts.
Hypothecation - A brokerage firm’s pledging of margin securities at a bank to
secure the funds necessary to carry an account’s debit balance.