Investments

When we speak about investments we mean the purchase by a business of new capital or of capital goods such as new machinery. In the most general sense, the objective of investing is to earn money with money. When an investor holds the collection of financial securities we say that he holds portfolio.

Unit Trust (BrE) or Mutual Fund (AmE) is a company that spreads its investors’ capital over a variety of securities. Investment in a unit trust/mutual fund reduces the risk for the small investor.

Apart from stocks and shares there are many types of investment opportunities available. When a company or government wishes to raise finance it can issue bonds. These are securities offered at a fixed rate of interest. Bonds issued by the government are called gilt-edged securities or gilts in the UK, and treasury bonds in the US.

Derivatives or derivative instruments are financial products such as futures, options and swaps. Futures are contracts that give the right to buy and sell currencies and commodities at an agreed time in the future at a price agreed at the time of the deal.

Options are contracts enabling the holder to buy a security at a fixed price for a limited period. Swaps allow the exchange of one asset for another to suit both parties.

Exercises in Word Study

Ex.1. Form verbs from the following nouns:

collection, reduction, product, agreement, investor, holder, meaning, earnings.

Ex.2. Give the English for:

купівля товарів виробничого призначення; заробляти гроші; мета інвестування; взаємний фонд; зменшувати ризик; інвестор; залучати фінанси; випускати облігації; пропонувати цінні папери за фіксованою процентною ставкою; гарантований цінний папір; купувати цінні папери за фіксованою ціною; влаштовувати обидві сторони.

Ex.3. Match words from list A with words from list B that have a similar meaning:

Ex.4. Find suitable opposites to the following words and phrases:

disinvestment, to increase, domestic investment, obstacle, to forbid, inaccessible.

Ex.5. Match the nouns in the left-hand column with the verbs in the right-hand column: