What Is the Clearing House Interbank Payments System (CHIPS)? The Clearing House Interbank Payments System (CHIPS) is the primary clearing house in the U.S. for large banking transactions. As of 2015, CHIPS settles over 250,000 of trades per day, valued in excess of $1.5 trillion in both domestic and cross-border transactions. CHIPS and the Fedwire funds service used…
The S&P 500 is gaining ground on Tuesday, buoyed by encouraging data in the world’s pandemic hotspots. While many investors hope for a “V-shaped” recovery in the coming months, it’s wise to expect a rocky road, with two-sided action controlling the ticker tape. It may be useful to understand how price structure is likely to…
What Is the Foreign Tax Deduction? The foreign tax deduction is one of the itemized deductions that may be taken by American taxpayers to account for taxes already paid to a foreign government, and are typically classified as withholding tax. The foreign tax deduction is usually taken in lieu of the more common foreign tax…
Walmart, Inc. (WMT) is the largest brick-and-mortar retailer in the world with about 11,500 locations in 27 countries worldwide. That’s a dramatic change from nearly six decades ago, when Sam Walton opened a single discount store in Rogers, Arkansas. Eight years later, the company went public and rapidly expanded. Today, the company operates an empire…
What Is Construction Occupancy Protection Exposure (COPE)? Construction Occupancy Protection Exposure (COPE) is a set of risks that property insurance underwriters review when determining whether to offer an insurance policy. COPE allows the insurer to evaluate the risks of insuring a piece of real estate, which will ultimately determine whether a policy is created or not….
What Is Difference in Conditions (DIC) Insurance? Difference in conditions (DIC) insurance is a type of policy that provides expanded coverage for some perils not covered by standard insurance policies. DIC insurance is designed to fill in gaps in insurance coverage and is most frequently used by larger organizations, looking for protection from catastrophic perils. Key Takeaways…
What Is a Forward Market? A forward market is an over-the-counter marketplace that sets the price of a financial instrument or asset for future delivery. Forward markets are used for trading a range of instruments, but the term is primarily used with reference to the foreign exchange market. It can also apply to markets for…
What Is a Forward Premium? A forward premium is a situation in which the forward or expected future price for a currency is greater than the spot price. It is an indication by the market that the current domestic exchange rate is going to increase against the other currency. This circumstance can be confusing because an…
Experience Brian Barnier, Director/Head of Analytics, ValueBridge Advisors (U.S.)/Burnt Oak Capital (UK), focuses on growing companies and investment funds. His analytical edge in risk management comes from systems analysis and advanced data visualization. His impact flows from his expertise in strategy, data analysis and technology. He is co-founder and editor of economic and market site…