The following definitions may help you better understand the capital markets. T Thin market A market that occurs when there are comparatively few bids to buy or offers to sell, or both. The phrase may apply to a single security or to the entire stock market. In a thin market, price fluctuations between transactions are usually larger than when the market is liquid. A thin market in a particular stock may reflect lack of interest in that issue, or a limited supply of the stock. Tick Slang used for minimum spread. Depending on the stock price it could be a half-cent, one cent or five cents. Ticker tape Each time a stock is bought and sold, it is displayed on an electronic ticker tape. It is a record of current trading activity on an exchange. Ticket fee The administrative fee charged for each trade. Time value The difference between an option's premium and its intrinsic value. Timely disclosure policy This policy requires all listed companies to publicly disclose material information in a timely manner. Total number of shares The total number of issued and outstanding shares for the security. Transaction date The date when the purchase or sale of a security takes place. Trading halt A trading halt is imposed by the exchange, usually due to the dissemination of news that might impact a stock's price. Trading symbol The symbol, usually one to three letters, which is shorthand for the names of listed stocks. Also known as stock symbol. Transfer agent A trust company appointed by a listed company to keep a record of the names, addresses and number of shares held by its shareholders. Frequently, the transfer agent also distributes dividend cheques to the company's shareholders. Top