THE WORLD of finance is awash with terms that can be intimidating for the lay investor. Personal Finance has always aimed at cutting through industry jargon to explain finance in language you can understand. However, if you’re interested in investing and want to take your interest to the next level, here are some terms and concepts you need to know.
Asset
In the context of investing, an asset is something you own that has economic value and will potentially grow in value. The four mainstream asset classes are: listed equity (shares in public companies), listed property (shares in property companies or Reits – see below), bonds and cash. Alternative asset classes include private equity (shares in private companies), precious