hair cut
A haircut is when investors agree to take less than they are owed in settlement of a debt.? So for example, if lenders agree to take a 50% haircut, they are agreeing to lose 50% of the money they lent. hard commodities
Metal and other solid raw materials which are traded on commodities markets. hedge fund
Hedge funds are mutual funds, usually organised as private limited partnerships, often based off-shore and are not generally available to the public. They can be distinguished from conventional funds because performance is usually measured on an absolute basis rather than relative to an index. Because of their structure, hedge funds are often regarded as secretive and regulation is light. Hedge funds can use gearing and derivatives to enhance the performance of the fund and may invest in shares, bonds, currencies and even alternative asset such as art and wine. hedging
Hedging is a way of laying off risk. For example, you could hedge your raw material costs by taking out a contract to buy at a fixed price for a number of months. That way, you know what your cost is and can set the price accordingly. hire purchase
A method of buying goods in which the purchaser takes possession of the goods as soon as an initial instalment of the price has been paid, but does not own them until the last instalment has been paid. historic cost
Assets are usually recorded in the accounts at their historic or original purchase price less accumulated depreciation. The balance sheet may therefore contain hidden value. The exceptions are investment properties and financial assets, which are generally valued at market prices. historic cost accounting
Assets are usually recorded in the accounts at their historic or original purchase price less accumulated depreciation. The balance sheet may therefore contain hidden value. The exceptions are investment properties and financial assets, which are generally valued at market prices. holding company
A company that exists simply to hold investments in its subsidiaries and associates, rather than to trade itself. horizontal integration
The expansion of a company to take in other companies at the same step in the value chain. For example, retailer which purchased another retailer would be increasing its horizontal integration. Horizontal integration can be contrasted with vertical integration (eg a retailer buying a supplier). hostile bid
A takeover bid which is unwelcome to either the board of directors of the target company or to its shareholders. hybrid funding
Hybrid or mezzanine funding has some of the characteristics of debt and some of the characteristics of equity ? so it falls between the two in terms of the risk/return. Banks often use hybrid or mezzanine capital which is specifically designed to fall into tier 1 or tier 2 capital for regulatory purposes. | 
>
>
>
>
>
