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Implied volatility
The volatility implied by the current market price of a derivative.
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Independent Financial Adviser (IFA)
Adviser not employed by a single firm who can select from all companies’ products i.e. pensions, unit trusts etc when providing ‘best advice’ to their client.
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Index Tracker Fund
A fund which tracks the weighted composition of a leading market index such as the FTSE 100.
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Indexation
A technique to adjust income payments by means of a price index. This to keep up the purchasing power of the public after inflation.
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Indexation allowance
Historically this provided a relief from Capital Gains Tax by allowing an inflation factor to be applied to acquisition costs. It is calculated with reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI).
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Index-Linked Bonds
Bonds which have their coupon and principal index linked, usually to the Retail Price Index. The return on the bond will therefore rise in line with inflation.
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Individual Savings Account (ISA)
A financial account for investment in the UK with special tax rules.
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Inflation
The general increase in prices in an economy. It is calculated with reference to the Retail Price Index (RPI).
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Insider Dealing
The criminal offence whereby those with unpublished price sensitive information deal, advise others to deal or pass the information on. Maximum penalty is seven years in jail and an unlimited fine. Where sudden severe movements in a share price occur the regulatory authority will check dealings in derivatives on the share as well as share trades to establish if any insider dealing has possibly occurred.
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Inter Dealer Broker (IDB)
A member of the London Stock Exchange which facilitates anonymous trading between firms
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Interest
The cost of money, expressed as a percentage rate per given period.
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Interest Rate Swap
An agreement to exchange interest related payments in the same currency from fixed rate into floating rate (or vice versa) or from one type of floating rate to another.
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International Petroleum Exchange (IPE)
London market for derivatives of energy contracts like those based on gas, electricity and oil products. It is now part of the Intercontinental Exchange.
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International Securities Market Association (ISMA)
The body which regulates trading of Eurobonds.
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Intervention
The process whereby a central bank acts to influence the exchange rate for its currency by buying it to support its value or selling to weaken it.
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In-the-money
An option whose strike is more advantageous to the option buyer than the current market rate. See At-the-Money, Out-of-the-Money.
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Intra-day
Within the day. The term is often used when stating high and low prices of a security. When stating, e.g., that a stock hit a new intraday ...
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Intrinsic Value
The amount by which an option is in-the-money.
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Inverted Yield Curve
A yield curve depicting short term interest rates higher than long term rates. Also called negative yield curve. The curve starts at a high value and falls downwards.
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Investment Business
Dealing, advising or managing investments. Those doing so need to be authorised.
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Investment Grade
A grading level that is used by certain types of funds for determining assets that are suitable for investment in by the fund.
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Investment management
Providing clients with a full range of investment management and custody services.
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Investment Services Directive (ISD)
European Union Directive imposing common standards on investment business. The most recent Directive has opened up the greater use of derivatives, particularly off-exchange, by funds.
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Investment Trust
Company whose sole business consists of buying, selling and holding shares. The difference with unit trusts is that investors in unit trusts do not receive a part of the profits of the company managing the trust.
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Investments
Items defined in the FSA 86 to be regulated by it , includes shares, bonds, options, futures, life assurance and pensions.
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Irredeemable Gilt
A gilt with no fixed date for redemption. Investors receive interest indefinitely.