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Real-Time Quote (RTQ) Key takeaways A real-time quote (RTQ) shows the instantaneous price and recent volume for a security, including the best bid and ask. Delayed quotes typically lag the market by 15–20 minutes; real-time quotes are immediate. Real-time pricing is essential for day traders, high-frequency traders, and anyone needing up-to-the-second execution accuracy; casual or…

Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) is a payment system in which banks transfer funds to one another instantly and individually. Transactions are settled in real time and on a gross (one-by-one) basis, making them final and irrevocable once processed. RTGS is primarily used for high-value, time-critical interbank transfers and is typically operated…

Real Time: What It Means Compared to Delayed Quotes What “real time” means Real time refers to information that is relayed with little to no delay from when an event occurs. In financial markets, a real‑time quote shows the current bid, ask and last-trade price as close as technologically possible to the moment of the…

Real Rate of Return The real rate of return measures the annual percentage gain on an investment after adjusting for inflation, showing the true change in purchasing power. It gives a clearer picture of how much an investment actually increases your ability to buy goods and services over time. Why it matters Inflation erodes nominal…

Real Property Real property is land and the permanent structures attached to it, together with the bundle of ownership rights associated with that land. It differs from real estate, which refers more narrowly to the physical, tangible aspects (land, buildings, natural features). Understanding real property matters when buying, selling, leasing, or financing land or buildings…

Real Options: Definition, Valuation, and Practical Use What is a real option? A real option is the managerial right — but not the obligation — to take future actions that affect tangible business assets or projects. Examples include the choice to expand, delay, contract, abandon, or change the operating scale of a project. Unlike financial…

Real Interest Rate What it is The real interest rate is the nominal (stated) interest rate adjusted for inflation. It represents the change in purchasing power an investor earns or a borrower pays. In short, it answers: “How much does my money really gain or lose in terms of goods and services?” Formula Real interest…

Real Income Key takeaways Real income (real wage) is income adjusted for inflation; it reflects purchasing power. Nominal income is the unadjusted dollar amount; real income shows whether you can buy more or less over time. Common inflation measures used to adjust income are the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the PCE Price Index, and the…

Real Gross Domestic Product (Real GDP) What is Real GDP? Real gross domestic product (real GDP) measures the value of all final goods and services produced by an economy in a given period after adjusting for changes in the price level (inflation or deflation). Expressed in constant (base-year) prices, real GDP shows changes in the…

Short Sale (Real Estate): What It Is, Process, Alternatives, and Tips Key takeaways * A short sale occurs when a homeowner sells a property for less than the outstanding mortgage balance and the lender agrees to accept the proceeds. * The lender must approve the short sale; approval is not guaranteed and can take weeks…

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Overview The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) is a federal consumer-protection law enacted to ensure transparency in real estate settlement costs and to eliminate abusive practices that can inflate those costs. Originally enforced by HUD, RESPA enforcement now falls to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It applies…

Real Estate Owned (REO) Real Estate Owned (REO) refers to residential or commercial property owned by a lender after a foreclosure auction fails to produce a buyer. Lenders—banks, credit unions, government-sponsored entities, or other financing institutions—take title to these properties and market them for sale to recoup unpaid loan balances. Key takeaways REO properties are…

Real Estate Operating Company (REOC) A real estate operating company (REOC) is a publicly traded company that actively invests in, manages, and operates real property—typically commercial assets such as office buildings, retail centers, hotels, malls, and multifamily housing. Unlike real estate investment trusts (REITs), REOCs are free to reinvest earnings into the business rather than…

Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) Key takeaways * A REMIC is a special-purpose vehicle that pools mortgages and issues mortgage-backed securities. * REMICs are generally treated as pass-through (tax-exempt at the entity level); investors report income on their personal tax returns. * REMICs are structured into tranches and traded on the secondary mortgage market;…

Real Estate Limited Partnership (RELP) What is a RELP? A Real Estate Limited Partnership (RELP) is a pooled-investment vehicle organized as a limited partnership to acquire, develop, manage, or lease real estate. It combines one or more general partners (GPs) who manage the enterprise and accept unlimited liability with limited partners (LPs) who contribute capital…

Other Long-Term Liabilities Other long-term liabilities are a balance-sheet line item that groups together debts and obligations due beyond one year (or beyond the company’s operating cycle) that are not shown separately. Companies aggregate these smaller or miscellaneous long-term obligations under “other” rather than listing each item individually. Key points Represent obligations not due within…

What are other current liabilities? Other current liabilities is a balance-sheet line that groups short-term obligations a company must pay within 12 months but that are not large or specific enough to merit their own separate line item. It’s a catch-all category for miscellaneous current debts and obligations. Current liabilities — quick context Current liabilities…

Other Current Assets (OCA) What are Other Current Assets? Other current assets (OCA) are miscellaneous, short-term assets a company expects to convert into cash or use within one operating cycle (typically one year) but that don’t fit the standard current-asset categories such as cash, marketable securities, accounts receivable, inventory, or prepaid expenses. Because they are…

Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting (OCBOA) What is OCBOA? Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting (OCBOA) refers to financial statements prepared using an accounting framework other than U.S. GAAP. Common OCBOA frameworks include the income tax (tax-basis) method, cash-basis and modified-cash-basis methods, statutory bases (for example, insurance-company rules required by state regulators), and other well-defined criteria…

OTCQX Overview OTCQX is the highest tier of the over-the-counter (OTC) markets operated by OTC Markets Group. It is intended for established, transparent companies—often large international “blue-chip” issuers—that choose to trade outside traditional national exchanges. OTCQX imposes stricter listing standards than other OTC tiers and provides enhanced market data and trading functionality. Key takeaways OTCQX…

OTCQB Venture Market: Key Facts and Benefits for Stock Investors What is the OTCQB? The OTCQB is the middle tier of the over‑the‑counter (OTC) equity markets, intended for early‑stage and developing companies. Launched to sit between the higher‑tier OTCQX and the lower‑tier OTC Pink, the OTCQB is designed to provide greater transparency and market access…

OTC Pink: Definition, Structure, Risks, and Investor Guidance Key takeaways * OTC Pink (formerly “Pink Sheets”) is an over-the-counter (OTC) marketplace for securities not listed on major exchanges. * It operates as a decentralized alternative trading system where broker-dealers post quotes and negotiate trades. * Companies are classed by the amount of public information they…

OTC Options: How They Differ from Exchange-Traded Options and the Risks Key takeaways OTC (over-the-counter) options are privately negotiated, customizable option contracts traded bilaterally rather than on an exchange. Strike prices, expiration dates, and other terms are not standardized—participants define terms to meet specific needs. OTC options carry higher counterparty and liquidity risk because they…

OTC Markets Group Inc. Key takeaways * OTC Markets Group operates the largest U.S. electronic quotation and trading system for over‑the‑counter (OTC) securities, serving thousands of issuers. * Its core services are trading infrastructure, market data, and corporate services for issuers seeking visibility or public trading outside national exchanges. * OTC securities are organized into…

Oslo Stock Exchange (OSL) Overview The Oslo Stock Exchange (OSL), also known as Oslo Børs or Euronext Oslo (after its 2019 acquisition by Euronext), is Norway’s principal and only regulated securities exchange. It lists equities, bonds, exchange-traded products (ETPs and ETFs), derivatives and certain funds, with a concentration in sectors such as energy, seafood and…

Oscillator of a Moving Average (OsMA) What it is The Oscillator of a Moving Average (OsMA) measures the difference between an oscillator and a moving average of that oscillator. Most commonly this is used with the MACD: the MACD line (oscillator) minus its signal line (moving average) is plotted as a histogram. Any oscillator and…

Understanding Oscillators: Identifying Overbought and Oversold Conditions An oscillator is a technical-analysis tool that fluctuates between defined high and low values to indicate short-term market extremes. Traders use oscillators to spot potential entry and exit points by identifying overbought and oversold conditions, especially when prices are moving sideways rather than trending strongly. Key takeaways Oscillators…

Orphan Drug Credit: What It Is and How It Works Introduction The orphan drug credit is a federal tax incentive designed to encourage pharmaceutical development of treatments for rare diseases. It helps offset the high cost of clinical testing for drugs that target small patient populations that otherwise would be unattractive to commercial development. Key…

Orphan Block: What It Is and How It Works Orphan blocks are blocks produced by a blockchain network that are not accepted into the canonical (longest or most-work) chain. They arise when two valid blocks are mined at nearly the same time and the network later converges on one chain; the blocks on the shorter,…

Origination Points: Meaning and Examples in Mortgages What are origination points? Origination points are fees charged by a lender to evaluate, process, and approve a mortgage. Each point equals 1% of the loan amount. These fees are typically paid at closing and are part of the borrower’s closing costs. Origination points compensate the lender for…

Origination Fee An origination fee is an upfront charge a lender assesses to process a new loan application. It compensates the lender for services such as processing, underwriting, and funding. In the U.S., origination fees are usually quoted as a percentage of the loan amount—commonly between about 0.5% and 1%—though they can be higher on…

Origination: What it is and how it works Origination is the multi-step process a borrower goes through to obtain a loan—most commonly a mortgage but also other amortized personal loans. It covers everything from pre‑qualification and application to underwriting and final approval. The process is subject to federal regulation and lender policies, and lenders typically…

Original Issue Discount (OID) An original issue discount (OID) is the difference between a debt instrument’s face (redemption) value and the price at which it is first sold. When a bond or note is issued for less than its stated maturity value, the discount represents additional interest income that accrues to the buyer and is…

Original Face: Definition, How It Works, and Why It Matters What is original face? The original face (or original face value) is the par value of a mortgage-backed security (MBS) when it is issued. It equals the total principal outstanding across all mortgage loans pooled into the MBS and represents the initial principal amount investors…

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) What an OEM is An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) produces components or parts that are used in another company’s finished products. OEMs typically sell to other businesses (B2B), while the buyers that assemble, rebrand, or retail the final product are often called value-added resellers (VARs). How OEM relationships work OEMs design…