Glossary of Investment Terms (H)
The following are useful investment terms beginning with ‘H’
Hang Seng Index
The principal Hong Kong Share Price Index.
Headline Inflation
The published overall inflation rate, unadjusted for non-economic factors, as opposed to
underlying inflation. One of a few economic indicators used to track inflation.
Hedge/Hedging
The practice of undertaking one investment activity in order to protect against loss in another, i.e. an insurance policy in all but name.
Hedge Fund
A type of investment portfolio under which the fund manager is authorised to utilise a number of higher risk investment techniques, including using derivatives, short selling and borrowing funds to generate a higher return. Not all Hedge Funds undertake high risk investments, even though the popular press may indicate differently.
Higher Rate Tax
The highest rate of Income Tax in the UK. Please note that tax rates and tax bands can change on a regular basis.
High Yield Corporate Bonds
Commonly referred to as "Junk Bonds", these are corporate bonds which are required to pay an above average rate of income in order to attract investors. Often a reflection of the underlying financial strength of the company issuing the bonds.
Holding Company
A company which controls another company usually by owning 50% or more of its share capital
Share this..
Related stories
Retail sales under pressure in March
UK retail sales in March grew by 0.4% which was well below the forecast 0.8% many analysts had put forward before the announcement. When you compare this subdued rate of growth to the 2.5% in February there is concern that the UK retail market is suffering. This comes just 24 hours ahead of the announcement of first quarter economic growth in the UK in 2010, something which Gordon Brown will be in...
Read MorePetrol prices hit all-time high
As we mentioned in one of our earlier articles, UK motorists have seen the cost of filling their petrol tanks increase enormously over the last two years. Today marks another difficult period for UK motorists with petrol prices hitting 119.9p a litre and concern that prices could push further ahead in the short-term. A mixture of a short-term increase in the cost of oil and the detrimental dollar...
Read MoreLocal councils lose millions to Icelandic crash
It has been announced that hundreds of millions of pounds of local council funding was held in bank accounts connected to Iceland meaning that there is a chance that it will all be lost after the crash in the country's financial sector. The Icelandic authorities have made good savings for nationals but as yet there has been no word on the various overseas divisions connected to the country's bank...
Read MoreToyota UK repairs will take up to 1 month
Toyota has this morning revealed that 180,000 new accelerator pedals have arrived in the UK to rectify issues identified in some Toyota vehicles. It is believed that the company has the capacity to fix 6,000 cars a day through its 208 service centres with each individual case taking no longer than 30 minutes to complete. While the issue should be fully rectified within the month it may take longer...
Read MoreFashion group Alexon rejects bid approach
Alexon, the fashion clothing group which owns brands such as Ann Harvey and Bay Trading, has today announced receipt of an unsolicited approach for the business. While the offer has been rejected out of hand and no details of the proposed terms released many believe this is a sign that investment capital is returning to the market and the UK retail sector could be over the worst.
Wh...