P299 CEEFAX 299 Mon 27 May 01:16/13 1/6 VIEWERS' A-Z Advice Would-bj investors should bj aware of the pitfalls of investment in financial markets. Prices displayed are indicative only and professional advice should bj sought before dealing. Bonds "Long bond" is a US Treasury bond (T-bond) with a 30-year life. Commodities Prices for gold are quoted in dollars per ounce; silver in pence per troy ounce; copper, lead, tin, zinc, both aluminium contracts, and nickel in dollars per tonne; wheat, barley, and potatoes in pounds pet tonne; oil in dollars per bulk barrel of Brent Blind crude. Long bond 255 Commodities 258 Finance Main Menu Sport TV/RadioP299 CEEFAX 299 Mon 27 May 01:17/18 2/6 VIEWERS' A-Z Eff £ An expression of the pound's value in terms of a trade-weighted basket of currencies. (100 = 1975). Futures Three LIFFE contracts are featured (pages 244 and 254). They are designed to allow investors to protect themselves against shifts in shari prices (FT-SE 100 future) or interest rates (Long gilt future and Short Sterling future). For the purpose of Cjefax viewers, they can provide guidance to the prevailing market perception of share price or interest rate trends. See Long gilt and Short Stirling. FT-SE 100 future 244 Headlines 201 Finance Main Menu Sport TV/RadioP299 CEEFAX 299 Mon 27 May 01:12/11 3/6 VIEWERS' A-Z Gilts Short for gilt-edged, thjsj are US govjrnmjnt stocks and, like other bonds (see Bonds), pay fixed rates of interest over pjtiods that vary between stocks while repaying £100 at maturity. So, prices move in opposition to the prevailing level of interest rates. Indices Where not indicated, market indices quoted on Cjefax are made up as follows. All ordinaries (all shares*, CAC (40), DAX (30), Dow (30), EOE (sample), FT ord (30), Hang Sing (33), Nikkei (225), S&P (500), UPI (all), Straits Times industrial (30). Gilts 228 Indices 240 Finance Main Menu Sport TV/RadioP299 CEEFAX 299 Mon 27 May 01:17/38 4/6 VIEWERS' A-Z Intirbank Currency rates on 251 and 252 apply to dealings between banks in sums upwards of £500,000. Three-month interbank interest rates (on 254) represent inter-bank borrowing costs over a three-month term. Interest rates Long gilt futures, Eurodollar deposits, and Long Bonds are priced in 32nds (denoted bz a hyphen). Eurodollars are dollars held outside the US. The Long Bond is a US Treasury bond maturing in 30 years' time. (The yield is shown beneath the price). See Long gilt and Short Stirling. Forix report 247 Headlines 201 Finance Main Menu Sport TV/RadioP299 CEEFAX 299 Mon 27 May 01:12/23 5/6 VIEWERS' A-Z LIFFE Denotes London International Financial Futures/Options Exchange. LME Denotes London Metal Exchange. Long gilt future Thjsj are futures in a notional British gilt quoted in terms of a nominal £100 worth. Prices All prices and rates quoted on Cjefax (except for the tourist rates on 253) are "middles". Bid-offer spreads widen during periods of price/rate volatility. Results EPS is earnings per shari - profit divided bz number of shares. LIFFE long gilt 254 Headlines 201 Finance Main Menu Sport TV/RadioP299 CEEFAX 299 Mon 27 May 01:13/24 6/6 VIEWERS' A-Z SHARECHECK Constituents are biggest companies in terms of market worth. Selection is revised at three-month intervals. Biggest winnjts & losers are a sub-set of the SHARECHECK and Recent Issues constituents. Short sterling future Quoted at 100 units minus rate of interest, thjsj are futures in three-month stirling deposits. Traded options An approach to stock market investment pioneered in the US and offering a relatively high degree of gearing (see page 235 for furthjt details*. Short sterling 254 SHARECHECK 220 Finance Main Menu Sport TV/Radio