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Description of How to Read the Financial Pages

Stripping away the mystique from the world of investment and finance, "How to Read the Financial Pages" is a layman's guide to reading and understanding the financial press and the markets and events it covers. Assuming no financial knowledge, Michael Brett provides a valuable explanation of the workings of the financial world - from money markets to commodity markets, investment ratios to takeover bids. With an extensive glossary of financial terms, this book will help you through the financial columns to a better understanding of the language of markets and money. For ten years "How to Read the Financial Pages" has been an outstanding first-choice buy for everyone who wants a thorough - but friendly - grounding in finance and investment. What are stock markets, currency markets, commodities markets? How do they operate? What are derivatives? Could they cause the financial system to crash? What is meant by insider dealing? Why is it illegal? Who are the main players in the world of money? What do stock brokers, market makers, merchant bankers and underwriters actually do? How has the Internet affected private investors? What are the new opportunities?

Title Information

ISBN:

9780712662598

Pages:

430 pages

Format:

Paperback

Product Code:

11054

Publisher:

Cornerstone

Published:

06/03/2003

Edition:

New ed of 5 Revised ed Edition

Financial Guru Reviews

How to Read the Financial Pages is a set text for financial journalists written by former editor of the Investor's Chronicle, author and lecturer Michael Brett. It is one of those books to reach for when faced with a bid, or a rights issue or, as so frequently happens to journalists, you need a primer on a financial subject you know little about; say derivatives, or commodities, the euromarkets, insurance, or foreign exchange. Brett serves the meat and drink of stockmarkets, shares, companies and accounts well too. He has written a book for anyone interested in the City, and how it works.
Richard Beddard

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About Michael Brett

Michael Brett is a freelance financial journalist, former editor of the Investor's Chronicle and a frequent lecturer on financial topics.

Contents of How to Read the Financial Pages

Introduction

1. First principles

2. Money flows and the money men

3. Companies and their accounts

4. The investment ratios

5. Refining the figurework

6. Equities and the Stock Exchange

7. What moves share prices?
a: In 'normal' times
b: In the crash of '87

8. Stockmarket launches

9. Issuing more shares - and buying shares back

10. Bidders, victims and lawmakers

11. Venture Capital and Leveraged Buy-outs

12. Pay, perks and reverse capitalism

13. Government bonds and company bonds

14. Banks, borrowers and bad debts

15. The money markets

16. Foreign exchange and the Euro

17. International Money: the euromarkets

18. Financial derivatives and commodities

19. Insurance and Lloyd's after the troubles

20. Commercial property and market crashes

21. Savings, pooled investments and tax shelters

22. Supervising the City

23. Print and the internet: the financial pages

Tailpiece: How to read between the lines

Glossary and index