MACD Histogram
Visual representation of the difference between the MACD line and the MACD signal line. The plot of this difference is presented as a histogram, making the centerline crossovers and divergences easier to identify.
Market Capitalization
Total market value of a company derived by multiplying the number of shares outstanding by the price of the stock. Commonly known as Market Cap.
Market Order
An order to buy or sell a security at the best market price. Market orders are usually filled immediately by the market maker. Sell orders placed at the market will most likely be filled at the bid price. Buy orders placed at the market will be most likely filled at the ask price.
Market Risk
The portion of a security's overall variability that can be attributed to the variability of the market as a whole.
Market Timing
An investment strategy in which the investor tries to increase returns by investing in the market when prices are expected to rise and selling out of the market when prices are expected to fall.
Maturity
The date by which an issuer promises to repay a bond's face value.
Momentum
Leading indicator measuring a security's rate-of-change. The ongoing plot forms an oscillator that moves above and below 100. Bullish and bearish interpretations are found by looking for divergences and/or crossovers.
Money Market Funds
Mutual funds that invest in short-term money market instruments, such as U.S. Treasury bills, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and repurchase agreements. An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although a money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund.
Morning Star
Bullish reversal chart pattern that continues a downtrend with a long candle body followed by a gapped down small candle body, then a long candle body that gapped up on the open and closed above the midpoint of the body of the first candle.
Moving Average
An average of data for a certain number of time periods. Moving average lags the market. An exponentially smoothed moving average (EMA) gives greater weight to the most recent data, in an attempt to reduce lag.
Moving Average Convergence/Divergence
Indicator that is calculated by subtracting the 26-period exponential moving average of a security from its 12-period exponential moving average. Commonly referred to as MACD.
Municipal Bonds
Bonds issued by state or local government to raise money to pay for special projects, such as building schools, highways, and sewers. The interest that investors receive is often exempt from federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local taxes too. Interest may be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
Mutual Fund
A collection of securities -- stocks, for example -- owned by a group of shareholders and managed by an investment company. Mutual funds pursue a variety of goals, depending on their investment charter. Some funds work to generate income on a regular basis, while others seek to provide capital appreciation.