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What is a Japan ETF? A Japan ETF is an exchange-traded fund that primarily invests in Japanese assets traded on domestic exchanges. Like other ETFs, Japan ETFs trade on stock exchanges and provide a single, diversified vehicle for gaining exposure to Japan’s equity, currency, and fixed-income markets without buying numerous individual securities. How Japan ETFs…

Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) What it is The Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) is a Japanese credit ratings provider that evaluates corporate, financial and public-sector debt. It publishes economic and financial research, offers data services, and supplies credit-risk guidance for domestic and foreign issuers. Key takeaways JCR is one of Japan’s primary credit rating…

Japan Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (JASDAQ) What is JASDAQ? JASDAQ is a Japanese securities market focused on high-growth and emerging companies. Its name reflects origins with the Japan Association of Securities Dealers. Within Japan’s broader market structure, JASDAQ has been one of the sections specifically designed to list startups and smaller, fast-growing firms….

January Effect Key takeaways The January Effect is the idea that stock prices tend to rise in January more than in other months. Proposed causes include tax-loss selling in December followed by repurchases in January, year-end bonuses being invested, mutual fund “window dressing,” and investor psychology. Empirical evidence is mixed: historically stronger in small-cap stocks…

January Barometer The January Barometer is a market hypothesis that proposes the S&P 500’s performance during January predicts its performance for the remainder of the year. If the S&P 500 finishes January higher than it started, the theory forecasts a positive full-year return; if January is down, the year is likely to be negative. Key…

Jan Tinbergen Overview Jan Tinbergen (1903–1994) was a Dutch economist and one of the founders of econometrics. He shared the first Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (1969) with Ragnar Frisch for developing and applying dynamic, quantitative models to analyze economic processes. Tinbergen pioneered multi-equation macro-econometric models that laid the groundwork for modern economic forecasting…

James Tobin James Tobin (1918–2002) was a Neo‑Keynesian economist known for his work on financial markets, monetary policy, and the interaction between finance and the real economy. He won the 1981 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his analysis of how financial markets influence expenditure, employment, and prices. Tobin is best known for portfolio selection…

James M. Buchanan Jr. James M. Buchanan Jr. (October 3, 1919 – January 9, 2013) was an American economist best known for founding the school of public choice theory. He received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1986 for his work on the contractual and constitutional foundations of economic and political decision-making. Key takeaways…

James H. Clark: Entrepreneur, Technologist, Philanthropist James H. “Jim” Clark is an American computer scientist and serial entrepreneur best known for co-founding Netscape. Over several decades he has launched and financed multiple influential technology companies, helped develop breakthrough 3-D graphics technology, and become a major philanthropist, particularly in higher education. Early life and education Born…

Jackson Hole Economic Symposium Overview The Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is an annual central-banking conference sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. It began in 1978 and has been held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, since 1981. The event brings together central bankers, finance ministers, academics, and market participants to discuss a single, timely…

Jackpot: What It Is, How It Works, and Consequences Key takeaways A jackpot is a large, sudden financial windfall, originally a gambling term for a growing pot that pays out when conditions are met. In finance, jackpots occur when an investment—such as an early IPO stake or a short-term trading gain—delivers unusually large returns quickly….

Jack Welch Overview Jack Welch was the chairman and CEO of General Electric (GE) from 1981 to 2001. During his two-decade tenure he transformed GE into one of the world’s most valuable corporations, raising its market value from roughly $14 billion to about $410 billion. Widely celebrated for his results-driven management style, Welch was also…

J-Curve Effect The J-curve describes a pattern in which an initial deterioration is followed by a strong recovery that ultimately surpasses the starting point. Plotted on a chart, the series of values resembles the capital letter “J”: a drop followed by a larger rise. Key takeaways A J-curve begins with a sharp decline, then reverses…

What is the J Curve? The J Curve is a descriptive pattern seen when a variable initially moves in the opposite direction of an expected long-term response after a shock, then reverses and moves strongly in the expected direction. In economics the term most often describes how a country’s trade balance reacts to a currency…

What Are Itemized Deductions? An itemized deduction is an eligible expense you list on Schedule A of Form 1040 to reduce your adjusted gross income (AGI) and lower your taxable income. Common examples include mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and certain medical expenses. Taxpayers can either itemize deductions or claim the standard deduction for their filing…

Issuer Identification Numbers (IIN) Key takeaways * An Issuer Identification Number (IIN), also called a Bank Identification Number (BIN), is the leading group of digits on a payment card that identifies the issuing financial institution and the card network. * IINs are part of the Primary Account Number (PAN); the PAN includes the IIN, the…

Issuer An issuer is a legal entity that creates, registers, and sells securities to raise capital for its operations. Issuers can be corporations, investment trusts, mutual funds or ETFs (which aggregate investor funds and issue shares), or domestic and foreign governments. They are legally responsible for the obligations tied to the securities they issue and…

Issued Shares Key takeaways * Issued shares are the total number of shares a company has sold and distributed, including those held by investors, insiders, and the company itself as treasury stock. * Outstanding shares equal issued shares minus treasury shares and are the shares currently held by external investors. * Authorized shares are the…

Issue: Definition, Purpose, and Types of Securities Offerings An issue is the offering of securities—stocks or bonds—to investors to raise capital. The term also refers to a specific series of securities released under a single offering (for example, a particular tranche of 10‑year bonds). Key takeaways An issue raises capital by offering new securities to…

What is an ISP? An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that delivers Internet access to homes, businesses, and other organizations. ISPs use a range of technologies—cable, DSL, fiber-optic, satellite, and wireless—to connect customers and often bundle additional services such as email, web hosting, domain registration, streaming or TV packages, and security or cloud…

Isoquant Curve What is an isoquant curve? An isoquant curve shows all combinations of two inputs (typically labor and capital) that produce the same level of output. It is a producer-side tool for understanding how inputs can be substituted while maintaining a constant production level, helping firms minimize cost and choose efficient input mixes. Explore…

ISO Currency Code: Definition and Guide Key takeaways * ISO currency codes are three-letter alphabetic codes (e.g., USD, EUR) that uniquely identify currencies worldwide. * They were standardized by the International Organization for Standardization in ISO 4217 (first published in 1978). * Each alphabetic code has an equivalent three-digit numeric code used by some systems…

ISM Manufacturing Index: A concise guide What it is The ISM Manufacturing Index — commonly called the Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) — is a monthly survey-based indicator of U.S. manufacturing activity compiled by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). It summarizes responses from purchasing and supply managers across manufacturing industries and is a widely…

Islamic Banking Islamic banking is a system of finance that follows Sharia (Islamic law). It treats money as a medium of exchange rather than a commodity, prohibits interest (riba), and emphasizes fairness, transparency, risk sharing, and ethical investment. While rooted in Islamic jurisprudence, its principles can appeal to both Muslim and non-Muslim customers. Core Principles…

iShares: An Overview of the Leading ETF Provider What is iShares? iShares is a global exchange-traded fund (ETF) brand managed by BlackRock. It offers a broad array of ETFs—across equities, fixed income, commodities, real estate, and thematic strategies—providing investors with low-cost, index-linked exposure to market segments worldwide. The platform includes hundreds of funds and represents…

Understanding the ISDA Master Agreement The ISDA Master Agreement is the standard contract used to govern over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives transactions worldwide. Published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), it standardizes key terms and legal mechanics across counterparties and jurisdictions, reducing legal uncertainty and credit risk in bilateral trading relationships. Key takeaways Provides a…

IS-LM Model The IS-LM model (Investment–Saving, Liquidity Preference–Money Supply) is a foundational Keynesian framework that shows how the goods market and the money market interact to determine short-run equilibrium output (GDP) and the interest rate. Introduced by John Hicks in 1937 as a graphical interpretation of Keynes’s General Theory, the model remains a teaching tool…

Publication 972: Child Tax Credit What Publication 972 was Publication 972 was an IRS guidance document that explained how to determine and claim the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) for tax years 2020 and earlier. It included eligibility rules, worksheets for special situations, and instructions on calculating credit…

IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education IRS Publication 970 explains federal tax rules and benefits related to education expenses. It is the primary IRS resource for students, families, and educators on how scholarships, grants, tuition reductions and other education-related payments are treated for tax purposes and which tax credits, deductions, and exclusions may apply….

IRS Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Key takeaways * Publication 590-B explains the tax rules for withdrawing money from any type of IRA (traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE). * It details when withdrawals are taxable, when required minimum distributions (RMDs) must be taken, and which distributions incur penalties or qualify for exceptions. *…

IRS Publication 590: Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) Key takeaways * Publication 590 explains federal tax rules for individual retirement arrangements (IRAs), including how to open, contribute to, and withdraw from IRAs. * The publication is divided into two parts: Part A (contributions) and Part B (distributions). * It covers traditional and Roth IRAs, contribution limits…

IRS Publication 550: Overview and Key Points What it is IRS Publication 550, “Investment Income and Expenses,” explains how various forms of investment income and investment-related expenses are taxed and reported on individual tax returns. It guides taxpayers on what income is taxable, which expenses are deductible (and any limits), and how to determine and…

IRS Publication 535 (Business Expenses) Overview IRS Publication 535 explains which business expenses are deductible and the rules for claiming them. To be deductible, an expense must be both ordinary (common in your industry) and necessary (helpful or appropriate for your business). Properly claiming business expenses reduces taxable income, but improper or exaggerated deductions can…

IRS Publication 527: What it is and how it works Key takeaways Publication 527, “Residential Rental Property,” explains how the IRS treats rental income and expenses for residential properties rented for income. Rental income includes normal and advance rent, payments to cancel a lease, and tenant-paid expenses. Special rules apply when a dwelling is rented…

IRS Publication 525: Taxable and Nontaxable Income Key takeaways * Publication 525 explains which types of income the IRS treats as taxable or nontaxable. * Income can be money, property, or services — and is taxable unless law specifically exempts it. * The publication covers ordinary wages and many less obvious income sources and is…