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Knowledge Capital: Meaning, Components, Uses Knowledge capital is the intangible value a company derives from its collective knowledge, skills, relationships, processes, and innovations. Unlike physical assets, it is rooted in people and information and provides a competitive edge through improved productivity, innovation, and efficiency. Key takeaways Knowledge capital is an intangible asset made up of…

Know Your Client (KYC): Essentials for Financial Services and Crypto What KYC Is Know Your Client (KYC) is a set of policies and procedures used by financial firms to verify customer identities, understand the nature of customer relationships, and assess risk. KYC is a core element of anti-money laundering (AML) programs and helps firms detect…

Know Sure Thing (KST) The Know Sure Thing (KST) is a momentum oscillator developed to simplify rate-of-change readings for traders. It smooths multiple rate-of-change (ROC) measures, weights them, and sums them into a single line. A 9-period simple moving average (SMA) of the KST serves as a signal line. Crosses between the KST and its…

Knock-Out Option — Definition and Overview A knock-out option is a barrier (exotic) option that becomes worthless if the underlying asset reaches a pre-set barrier price during the option’s life. Because of this built-in cancellation risk, knock-out options typically have lower premiums than comparable vanilla options. They are most commonly used by institutions in commodity…

Knock-In Option A knock-in option is a barrier option that becomes a standard (vanilla) option only if the underlying asset’s price reaches a specified barrier level during the option’s life. If the barrier is never reached, the contract never activates and expires worthless. Key points Knock-in options activate only when the underlying hits a predefined…

Comorian Franc (KMF) Overview The Comorian franc (KMF) is the official currency of the Union of the Comoros, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It is issued and managed by la Banque Centrale des Comores, headquartered in Moroni. The KMF is officially pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 491.96775 KMF =…

Klinger Oscillator The Klinger Oscillator is a volume-based technical indicator developed to detect long-term money flow trends while remaining sensitive to short-term fluctuations. It compares volume flowing through a security with price movement, producing an oscillator by taking the difference between two exponential moving averages (EMAs) of a computed Volume Force (VF). Traders use the…

Kiwi Bond Overview A Kiwi Bond is a New Zealand government–issued fixed-income security available only to New Zealand residents. Denominated in New Zealand dollars (NZD), Kiwi Bonds pay a fixed rate of interest for a set term and are fully backed by the New Zealand government, making them a low-risk investment option for retail investors….

New Zealand Dollar (NZD) — Overview The New Zealand dollar (NZD), often shown as $ or NZ$, is the official currency of New Zealand and is subdivided into 100 cents. The NZD is also used in the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. Informally it is called the “Kiwi,” after New Zealand’s native…

Kiting: Fraudulent Checks and Securities Explained Key takeaways * Kiting is a fraud that exploits timing gaps in financial instruments (checks or securities) to obtain unauthorized credit. * Check kiting uses checks drawn on accounts with insufficient funds and relies on float time to cover withdrawals. * Retail kiting uses bad checks and retailer cash-back…

Kiosk: Definition, History, Types, Advantages, and Risks Key takeaways * A kiosk is a small, stand-alone booth or electronic terminal placed in high‑traffic locations for marketing, sales, information, or self-service transactions. * Kiosks can be staffed or unmanned (electronic) and are a low‑cost option for testing products, extending services, or automating routine tasks. * Common…

Kin: What It Was, How It Worked, and What Happened Kin was a cryptocurrency created by the developers of the messaging app Kik as a built-in digital currency for that platform’s ecosystem. Launched via an initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017, Kin was intended to reward user contributions and incentivize developers to build services that…

Kimchi Premium Key takeaways * The kimchi premium is the price gap between cryptocurrencies (especially bitcoin) on South Korean exchanges and prices on foreign exchanges. * It creates potential arbitrage opportunities but is hard to exploit because of capital controls, regulatory limits, and transfer delays. * The premium has varied over time—averaging several percent and…

Killer Bees Killer bees are firms or advisors — such as investment bankers, lawyers, accountants, and tax specialists — hired by a target company to defend against an unwanted takeover. Their role is to design and implement anti-takeover defenses that make the target harder, more costly, or less attractive to acquire. Background The term gained…

Killer Application: Meaning, How It Works, and Why It Matters What is a killer application? A killer application (or “killer app”) is a software program or feature so compelling that it drives adoption of the platform, device, or ecosystem that supports it. Historically, killer apps have been the decisive products that move consumers to buy…

Fill-or-Kill (FOK) Order Definition A fill-or-kill (FOK) order is a time‑in‑force instruction in securities trading that requires an order to be executed immediately and in its entirety or else be canceled. It ensures a trader either gets the full quantity requested at the specified terms right away or none of it. Key features Requires full…

Kijun-sen (Base Line) Overview The Kijun-sen, or base line, is a core component of the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo (Ichimoku cloud) technical analysis system. It represents the midpoint of price over a defined lookback period (commonly 26 periods) and is used to gauge short- to medium-term momentum, trend direction, and, when combined with other Ichimoku lines,…

Kijun Line (Base Line): Definition, Formula, and Trading Strategies What is the Kijun Line? The Kijun Line (Kijun-sen or Base Line) is a component of the Ichimoku Cloud indicator. It reflects the midpoint of price over a set lookback (standard is 26 periods) and is used to gauge medium-term momentum, identify support/resistance, and generate trade…

Kids in Parents’ Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings (KIPPERS) Kids in Parents’ Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings (KIPPERS) is a slang term for adult children who continue to live with their parents after completing school and entering the workforce. Also known as boomerang children, KIPPERS can strengthen family bonds but often create financial strains that erode parents’…

Kiddie Tax: Rules, Rates, and Reporting What is the Kiddie Tax? The kiddie tax limits the tax advantage of shifting investment income to children with low tax rates. It applies to unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rent, royalties) of qualifying minors and certain dependent students. Earnings from employment are not subject to the kiddie…

Kicking the Tires: Meaning, Examples, Pros & Cons What it means “Kicking the tires” is a colloquial term for performing only a minimal, cursory review of an investment instead of conducting full due diligence. The phrase evokes a car shopper who walks around a vehicle and taps the tires rather than inspecting the engine or…

What is a kicker pattern? A kicker pattern is a two-bar candlestick reversal pattern that signals a sudden and decisive change in market sentiment. It typically appears after the release of significant information and shows a sharp price reversal between two consecutive candlesticks. Traders use it to identify which group—buyers or sellers—has taken control of…

Kicker: What it is, How it Works, and Types A kicker is an added feature or right attached to a debt instrument or loan that makes the deal more attractive to lenders or investors by offering additional upside—most commonly the potential to acquire equity in the issuer. In finance it’s often called a sweetener or…

Kickback: Definition, How It Works, Warning Signs, and Examples What is a kickback? A kickback is an illegal payment or transfer of value given in exchange for preferential treatment or improper services. It can be cash, gifts, rebates, favors, or anything else of value. Kickbacks subvert impartial decision‑making and are a form of bribery or…

Keystone XL Pipeline: Overview, How It Works, and Controversy Introduction The Keystone XL pipeline was a proposed 1,700-mile oil conduit intended to carry heavy crude from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The project has been a focal point of political debate and environmental protest for years. While parts of the…

Keynesian Put What the Keynesian Put Is The “Keynesian put” describes the expectation that governments and central banks will step in to limit market losses and support the economy during deep downturns. It’s not a formal policy or contract but a shorthand for the implicit guarantee—rooted in Keynesian economics—that authorities will use fiscal and monetary…

Keynesian Economics Keynesian economics is a macroeconomic framework that emphasizes active government intervention—particularly fiscal policy—to stabilize aggregate demand, counter recessions, and reduce unemployment. Developed in response to the Great Depression, it remains influential in debates over how governments should respond to economic downturns. Key takeaways The central idea: when private demand is weak, government spending…

Key Ratio Key ratios are financial metrics that summarize a company’s performance or condition in a single, comparable number. They distill information from the balance sheet, income statement, and cash-flow statement into measures of liquidity, profitability, solvency, efficiency, or valuation to help investors, analysts, and managers evaluate and compare companies. How key ratios work Key…

Key Rate Duration: What it Is and Why it Matters Key rate duration (KRD) measures a bond or portfolio’s price sensitivity to yield changes at specific points along the yield curve. Unlike effective duration, which assumes a parallel shift of the entire yield curve, KRD isolates the impact of non‑parallel, point‑specific movements—useful because real-world yield‑curve…

Key Rate: Definition, Types, and Importance Key takeaways * The key rate determines how much banks pay to borrow short-term funds and strongly influences consumer credit costs. * Two primary key rates in the U.S. are the federal funds rate (interbank overnight lending) and the discount rate (borrowing from the Federal Reserve). * Changes in…

Key Person Insurance: Essential Guide for Businesses Key person insurance is a life (or disability) policy a company purchases on an owner, executive, or other essential employee to protect the business from financial loss if that person dies or becomes incapacitated. The company pays the premiums and is the policy beneficiary; the benefit proceeds are…

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Definition Key performance indicators (KPIs) are measurable values that show how effectively an organization is achieving key business objectives. KPIs summarize performance over a period and gain value when compared to targets, benchmarks, or historical performance. Why KPIs Matter KPIs enable leaders to: * Monitor progress toward strategic goals. * Identify…

Key Money: Meaning, How It Works, and When It’s Legal What is key money? Key money can refer to different things depending on context: A synonym for a security deposit — typically one or two months’ rent paid when signing a lease. An extra payment (sometimes an under‑the‑table payment or “bribe”) paid to a landlord,…

Key Employee A key employee is someone whose ownership, decision-making authority, technical expertise, or public role gives them an outsized impact on a company’s success. These employees are often highly compensated and may receive special benefits or incentives to attract and retain them. Key takeaways Key employees play a central role in operations, revenue generation,…

Key Currency: What it Means, How it Works, Examples A key currency is a widely accepted, relatively stable currency used as a reference in international trade, finance, and foreign-exchange markets. Because of broad use and trust, key currencies often serve as benchmarks for valuing other currencies, are held as reserves by central banks, and are…