Financial Glossary

Account balance/account value

The net amount held at any given time in an account, after factoring in all debits and credits.

AIM (Alternative Investment Market)

A sub-market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), allowing smaller companies to raise capital with a more flexible regulatory system than is required for the main market of the LSE. CFDs in AIM-listed shares are not available.

Arbitrage

The process of buying an asset (such as shares) and then immediately selling it so as to profit from the difference. Arbitrageurs can exploit tiny differences in the quoted price of an identical instrument across different markets using very large-sized trades.

Ask

The lowest price at which a seller is willing to sell an investment or asset at a given moment. Also known as the offer price.