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Immediate or Cancel (IOC) Order Key takeaways * An Immediate or Cancel (IOC) order attempts to execute immediately and cancels any portion that cannot be filled right away. * IOC orders can be entered as market or limit orders. They allow partial fills. * IOC is a time-in-force instruction used to control execution speed and…

Immediate Family: Meaning and Legal Applications Key takeaways * “Immediate family” generally refers to an individual’s closest relatives: spouse, parents, and children. * Legal definitions vary by context—employment law, inheritance, immigration, and financial regulation each define the term differently. * To protect family interests, document wishes in a will, name beneficiaries on accounts and insurance,…

Understanding Illiquid Assets: Risks, Examples, and Market Impact Illiquid assets are investments or properties that cannot be quickly sold or converted to cash without a significant loss in value. Because they trade infrequently and attract fewer buyers, they tend to have wider bid-ask spreads and higher price volatility. Recognizing which holdings are illiquid and how…

What Is Idle Time, and What It Means for Businesses Idle time is paid time during which employees or machines are not productive because they are waiting or otherwise unable to work. Causes can be within management’s control (scheduling errors, process bottlenecks) or outside it (equipment failure, supply-chain disruptions). Idle time typically applies to salaried…

Idiosyncratic Risk Idiosyncratic risk (also called specific or unsystematic risk) is the portion of an asset’s risk that stems from factors unique to that asset, a particular company, or a narrow group of assets. Unlike market-wide (systematic) risk, idiosyncratic risk affects only a limited slice of the market and can often be reduced or eliminated…

Identity Theft: Types, Prevention, and Recovery Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information—such as your Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers, driver’s license, or passport—without permission to commit fraud or gain financial benefits. Consequences include damaged credit, false accounts, medical billing errors, and even wrongful arrest. Key takeaways Identity theft can…

Identifiable Asset: Definition, Uses, and Examples Key takeaways An identifiable asset is one whose fair or commercial value can be measured at a specific point in time and is expected to provide future economic benefits. Identifiable assets can be tangible (e.g., machinery, buildings, inventory) or intangible (e.g., patents, trademarks) as long as they can be…

What Is Ideation? Ideation is the process of generating, developing, and communicating ideas—from initial concept through testing and implementation. Common in business and innovation contexts, ideation transforms insights, experiences, and influences into actionable solutions expressed visually, verbally, or in writing. Key takeaways Ideation moves ideas from conception to real-world application. Ideas can come from anyone:…

ICON (ICX): Overview, How It Works, and Criticisms What is ICON? ICON is a blockchain platform designed to connect independent blockchains—referred to as communities—so they can interoperate and transact with one another. Each community is a network of nodes operating under a single governance system (for example, a cryptocurrency network, a bank, a hospital, or…

Ichimoku Kinko Hyo: Understanding Its Five Key Components Key takeaways * Ichimoku Kinko Hyo is an all‑in‑one technical system that summarizes trend, momentum, and support/resistance at a glance. * It comprises five lines: Tenkan‑sen, Kijun‑sen, Senkou Span A, Senkou Span B, and Chikou Span. * The area between Senkou Span A and B (the Kumo…

Ichimoku Cloud — A concise guide The Ichimoku Cloud (Ichimoku Kinko Hyo) is a multi-component technical analysis tool that shows trend direction, momentum, and dynamic support/resistance levels. Unlike many indicators, it projects these levels forward, giving traders a quick, holistic view of market conditions and potential trade setups. Core components and formulas Conversion Line (Tenkan-sen)…

Iceberg Order: Definition, Purpose, and How to Spot One Key takeaways * An iceberg order hides a large trade by displaying only a small portion of the total quantity on the public order book. * It’s commonly used by institutional traders to reduce market impact and avoid moving prices. * Signs of an iceberg include…

Hysteresis in Economics What is hysteresis? Hysteresis describes situations where the effects of an economic shock persist after the original causes have disappeared. In other words, past disturbances leave a lasting imprint on the economy — for example, unemployment or reduced output that does not fully reverse once recovery begins. Origins The term was coined…

Hypothesis Testing Hypothesis testing is a statistical method for evaluating an assumption about a population using data from a sample. It helps determine whether an observed pattern can be reasonably explained by chance or whether it provides evidence for an alternative explanation. How it works A researcher formulates two mutually exclusive statements: * Null hypothesis…

Hypothecation What is hypothecation? Hypothecation is the act of pledging an asset as collateral to secure a loan while the borrower retains ownership, possession, and any income the asset generates. The lender gains a legal right to seize or foreclose on the pledged asset only if the borrower defaults on the loan. Hypothecation is commonly…

What Is HTML? HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language used to create and structure content on the World Wide Web. It uses tags—keywords wrapped in angle brackets—to describe elements such as headings, paragraphs, images, links and forms. Web browsers read HTML files and render them into the pages users see. Key takeaways…

Hypermarket: Definition, Advantages, and Market Impact What is a hypermarket? A hypermarket is a large retail store that combines a supermarket and a department store under one roof. It offers a wide assortment of goods—groceries, clothing, appliances, pharmacy items, and general merchandise—designed to provide a one-stop shopping experience. Explore More Resources › Read more Government…

Hyperledger Sawtooth Hyperledger Sawtooth is an open-source, enterprise-focused blockchain platform under the Hyperledger umbrella. Designed by the Linux Foundation with contributors such as IBM, Intel, and SAP, Sawtooth emphasizes modularity, security, and flexibility for building distributed ledger applications. Key takeaways Sawtooth separates the blockchain core from application logic, letting developers write transaction processors in multiple…

Hyperledger Fabric Key takeaways Hyperledger Fabric is an enterprise-grade, open-source distributed ledger framework hosted by the Linux Foundation and designed for permissioned, private blockchain networks. It uses a modular architecture and pluggable components so organizations can tailor consensus, identity, and smart contract behavior to business needs. Permissioned membership and data partitioning enable private transactions and…

Hyperledger Fabric What it is Hyperledger Fabric is an enterprise-grade, open-source distributed ledger framework designed for building permissioned (private) blockchain solutions. Initially contributed by IBM and Digital Asset and hosted by the Linux Foundation, Fabric targets business use cases that require privacy, identity management, modularity, and performance. Key points Permissioned network: participants have known, verifiable…

Hyperledger Explorer Hyperledger Explorer is an open-source, web-based tool for viewing and interacting with blockchain data on Hyperledger deployments. It translates machine-readable ledger entries into human-friendly dashboards, charts, and tables so developers, operators, researchers, and decision-makers can inspect network activity, transactions, smart contracts, and account balances. Key features Web UI for browsing blocks, transactions, chaincode…

Hyperledger Composer: What It Is and How It Works What is Hyperledger Composer? Hyperledger Composer is an open-source, business-oriented set of tools for building blockchain applications and smart contracts on Hyperledger Fabric. Designed to speed development and improve collaboration between business stakeholders and developers, Composer provides a higher-level application development framework that simplifies modeling, testing,…

Hyperledger: Open-Source Enterprise Blockchain Framework Hyperledger is an open-source collaborative project that provides frameworks, tools, and standards for building permissioned, enterprise-grade blockchain and distributed ledger solutions. It offers modular components that organizations can combine to create customized blockchain networks for use cases across finance, supply chain, manufacturing, IoT, and more. Key takeaways Hyperledger is a…

Hyperinflation: Causes, Effects, and How to Protect Your Finances Key takeaways Hyperinflation is an extreme, rapid rise in prices — conventionally defined as inflation exceeding 50% per month. Common triggers include runaway expansion of the money supply, severe drops in economic output, and a collapse in confidence in the currency. Effects include collapsing purchasing power,…

Hyperdeflation: Meaning, Mechanisms, and Examples What is hyperdeflation? Hyperdeflation describes an extreme, rapid increase in a currency’s purchasing power—that is, a very large and fast fall in general price levels. It is the theoretical opposite of hyperinflation and is extraordinarily rare in recorded economic history. Key points Hyperdeflation = very large, rapid declines in prices…

Hydrocarbons: Definition, Uses, Impacts, and Alternatives Key takeaways Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made only of hydrogen and carbon; they form the basis of crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Hydrocarbon-based fuels and products account for the majority of global energy use and many industrial materials (plastics, solvents, lubricants). Extraction and combustion provide economic benefits and…

Hydraulic Fracturing What it is Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, is a stimulation technique used to extract oil and natural gas from low-permeability rock formations. It involves injecting high-pressure fluid into a wellbore to create and expand fractures in the rock, improving pathways for hydrocarbons to flow to the well. How it works A mixture…

Understanding Hybrid Securities Hybrid securities combine characteristics of debt and equity into a single instrument. They aim to offer a middle ground between the stability of bonds and the upside potential of stocks, creating a range of risk-return profiles tailored for specific financing and investment goals. Key takeaways * Hybrid securities mix debt- and equity-like…

Hybrid Fund: Meaning and Examples of Mixed-Asset Funds What is a hybrid fund? A hybrid fund (also called an asset allocation fund) is an investment fund that holds two or more asset classes within a single portfolio. Most commonly, hybrid funds combine stocks and bonds to provide built-in diversification and a single point of access…

Hybrid ARM: What It Means and How It Works Key takeaways * A hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (hybrid ARM) combines a fixed-rate period with a subsequent adjustable-rate period. * Common formats are expressed as X/Y (for example, 5/1), where X = years of the initial fixed rate and Y = frequency of resets afterward. * Hybrid…

Hybrid Annuity: Definition, How It Works, Pros and Cons What is a hybrid annuity? A hybrid annuity is a single retirement product that combines a fixed-rate component and a variable-rate component. Part of the premium is placed in a guaranteed, fixed account that provides predictable income; the remainder is invested in sub-accounts (similar to mutual…

Hurdle Rate A hurdle rate is the minimum acceptable return an investor or company requires before committing capital to a project or investment. It reflects the cost of financing plus compensation for risk and opportunity cost, and it serves as a decision benchmark: projects with expected returns above the hurdle rate are typically pursued; those…

Hundredweight (CWT) Definition and key points A hundredweight (abbreviated CWT, from centum/cental weight) is a traditional unit of mass used in commodities trading and freight pricing. There are two standards: * North America (short hundredweight): 1 CWT = 100 pounds = 45.3592 kg * United Kingdom (long hundredweight): 1 CWT = 112 pounds = 50.8023…

Humped Yield Curve: Meaning, Causes, and Implications Definition A humped yield curve (also called a bell-shaped curve) occurs when medium-term interest rates are higher than both short-term and long-term rates. On a plot of bond yields against maturity, the curve rises to a peak in the intermediate maturities and then falls for longer maturities. Explore…

Human Resources (HR): Key Roles and Strategies What is HR? Human Resources (HR) is the organizational function responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining employees. HR manages recruitment, onboarding, training, compensation and benefits, employee relations, compliance with labor laws, and workforce planning. Effective HR contributes to a positive workplace culture, higher productivity, and lower turnover. How…