С) Name the problems of emerging markets mentioned in the text and say which of them are typical of Russia.

 

In 1990 the fastest rising stock markets in... world were those emerging in the developing countries. There are now more than 50 stock exchanges in... developing world: some are insignificant or dormant, others are active and growing.

It was once widely presumed that poor demand for securities would be the biggest handicap to... emergence of stock markets in the developing world. There were not enough potential buyers in developing countries. However, it is now evident that there is generally... adequate demand for securities, in both the primary and secondary markets, arising both from speculative interest and from... portfolio needs of financial institutions.

Even if the emerging stock markets have some demand-side difficulties,... more general, continuing and severe problem has been... insufficient supply of securities. The chief markets problem in developing countries is that the secondary market for bonds and shares is often inactive. There are often not enough buyers and sellers to make... steady market. Quite often institutional stockholders hold securities firmly matched against their future liabilities rather than engaging in frequent trade. When institutions do enter... secondary market they may try to buy or sell in large lots, thus making a big price disturbance. As institutions amass large blocks of shares they may be tempted to exercise their market power, especially in... field of corporate takeovers.

Speculation has been common in most of the emerging stock markets and very noticeable because of... thinness of the markets. While the opportunity for speculation is one of the chief attractions of any stock market, the line between speculation and sharp practices is something hard to draw.

Priviliged placements, insider trading, short selling and other questionable practices have occurred throughout the developing world.

In these circumstances,... pure theory of international trade suggests that stock markets would not be viable in all countries but would cluster at a few points of... globe, determined by the location of factor skills and time zones.

Words you may need:

dormant adj спящий; (зд.) бездействующий

presume v полагать, допускать, считать

handicap n недостаток, помеха, препятствие

steady market устойчивый рынок

large lots крупные лоты

big price disturbance существенное колебание цен

amass v накапливать

takeover n поглощение (одной компании другой)

thinness of the market узость рынка

speculation n спекуляция (торговля ценными бумагами с целью получения прибыли)

sharp practice мошенничество, надувательство

insider trading незаконные операции с ценными бумагами на основе «внутренней» информации о деятельности компании эмитента

short selling «короткая» продажа

viable adj жизнеспособный

cluster v группироваться

Ex. 9. a) Supply the prepositions where necessary.

b) Write down 3-5 questions about the text.

c) Describe the trends in the major equity markets mentioned in the text.

Equity Market

 

In return... the use of their funds, investors in a corporation are issued certificates, or securities. Corporate securities represent claims... the assets and future earnings of the firm. Corporate securities take the form... either common stock or preferred stock.

In 1980 the US equity market was the largest domestic equity market in the world and was three times larger than its nearest rival, the Japanese market. During 1990 there were periods when the capitalization of the Tokyo Stock Exchange was higher than the NYSE. These relative values can fluctuate quite dramatically. For example, the Tokyo Stock Exchange market capitalization fell... 29% in the mid two quarters of 1990. The London Stock Exchange only fell by 17%... this period. As a result, the value rankings are not stable over short periods. However, one can see the rapid rise of the Tokyo stock exchange... the 1980s, the relative decline of US stock markets, and the slow but sure growth of London and the other European stock exchanges.

The UK has a large domestic and international equity market relative to the size of its economy. This market is the most international in terms of foreign companies listed and the extent... foreign equities traded. In contrast, German equity markets are small relative... the size of the economy. The UK, Canadian and the US domestic capital markets are very similar... each other in that many domestic firms are quoted and equity is a significant form of finance. However, most of the smaller domestic capital markets can be characterized as consisting... very few firms which are widely publicly held. Small group and family holdings predominate and new equity issues are avoided for fear... losing control.

Words you may need:

common stock обычные акции

dramatically adv резко

ranking n ранжирование, классификация

relative to относительно

holding n владение (акциям)

predominate v преобладать

Ex. 10. a) Open the brackets putting the verbs in the correct form.

b) Describe the changes on the London Stock Exchange brought about by Big Bang.

 

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) (to be) the principal market for the trading of equities, other corporate securities and government debt in the UK.

The London equity market (to have) the third largest turnover in the world, after Tokyo and New York. Organized dealing in stocks and shares in London (to start) at the end of the 17th century, when much of it (to take) place in the coffee houses in the City of London. At the beginning of the 19th century the London Stock Exchange (to obtain) its constitution and a building of its own.

Now it is a dealership market: the great majority of customer orders (to transact) with a market maker who quotes prices at all times at which he stands ready to buy or sell. In this respect it (to differ) sharply from the more common public auction markets such as New York, Tokyo or Paris where the bulk of customer trades cross directly with each other. The market (to undergo) substantial change at the time of Big Bang in 1986, and its current structure is modelled in part on that of NASDAQ, the US over-the-counter market.

Prior to 1986, membership of the stock exchange (to restrict) to partnerships. Member firms (to be) either brokers or jobbers. Brokers were not allowed to trade on their own account: they (to act) as agents for their customers, and transacted their orders with jobbers. The commission structure was fixed. Jobbers were obliged to make a two-way market in securities, and (to deal) with brokers as principals. They were prohibited from dealing directly with customers. Dealing (to take) place on the floor of the exchange.

The changes which were instituted in the period up to October 1986 were designed to liberalize the activities on the stock exchange: the rule restricting membership of the exchange to partnerships (to remove); fixed commissions were scrapped; the separation between broking and jobbing (to end); member firms became broker-dealers, free to act as agents and as principals. Those who wished to do so could register as market makers in specified stocks. At the same time, the opportunity (to take) to modernize the trading and quote dissemination system. A computerized system (to install) which showed the price quotes of all market makers in all stocks. Trades had to be reported electronically within five minutes.

The effects of Big Bang (to be) generally beneficial for customers dealing in size in liquid stocks.

The stock exchange (to be) the competent listing authority for the UK. The main requirements for having a listing in London are a 3-year-audited track record, a capitalization in excess of £700,000, at least 25 per cent of which must be in public hands, and the submission of appropriate listing particulars. In addition the company (to require) to release all necessary information for shareholders and to the public to appraise the position of the company at all times. Companies have to pay to the exchange a fee on listing and an annual fee thereafter. The stock exchange (to be) a private limited company owned by its individual members.

The London Stock Exchange increasingly (to affect) by the legislation of the European Community. This process has the aim of creating a single European securities market.

Words you may need:

dealership market рынок, на котором работают дилеры

order n (зд.) приказ

the bulk n большая часть

Big Bang – реорганизация Лондонской фондовой биржи 27 октября 1986 г.: отмена минимальных фиксированных комиссий, допуск на биржу банков и иностранных учреждений, разрешение членам биржи совмещать функции брокера и джоббера

NASDAQ = National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations – автоматические котировки Национальной ассоциации дилеров по ценным бумагам.

prior to prep до, ранее

two-way market рынок, на котором постоянно котируются цена покупателя и цена продавца

prohibit v запрещать

principal n принципал

institute v вводить, устанавливать

scrap v выбрасывать за ненадобностью

dissemination n распространение (информации, знаний)

market maker «делатель рынка», брокерская фирма, постоянно котирующая ценные бумаги

track record информация о деятельности фирмы (банка и др.)

capitalization n капитализация

in excess of сверх

appraise v оценивать

fee n (зд.) взнос

Ex. 11. a) Fill each gap with a suitable word from the box below.

b) Sum up the text in 5-7 sentences and present your summary in class.

c) Say what you have learned about trading on the New York Stock exchange.

 

stockholders	start	exchange	conduct
traded (2)	meets	assigned	transactions
data	types	work	membership
funds	foundation	putting	securities
sellers	trading	free	founded
exchanges

The New York Stock Exchange

 

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the oldest and largest of the_______. It is a universal symbol of economic freedom. Three out of five Americans through this institution share in the strength and growth of the_______enterprise system. On a typical day about $6 billion worth of shares are________on the NYSE.

Trades between buyers and________of securities are arranged by brokers. Brokers act as agents,________buyers in touch with sellers but not taking title to the securities. They represent on the floor different customers: mutual funds, investment funds, pension _______and small investors. Brokers' day is a non-stop gathering of information.

The NYSE has 1366 members. A broker can join the exchange only by buying a_______or "seat", that costs as much as half a million dollars. There are different_______of members. Commission brokers are partners in brokerage firms who carry out trades for the firm's clients. Besides, there are specialists, who are_______to a specific stock or bond and assist commission brokers in trading that stock or bond. Specialists buy stock for their capital, they ensure that a buyer meets a seller and a seller________a buyer. Today, some 2200 stocks and more than 100 bond issues are________ on the Exchange. Each stock is traded in one individual spot which brings all orders together in one place.

The New York Stock Exchange was _______ in 1792, when merchants met to formalize rules and hours for_______. Business flourished. Trading three times a day gave way to an all-day auction market. At first each post auctioned only a handful of_______.

Then a handful grew into a hundred. But the underlying principles have never changed. The unique structure of the auction system has been its strength and cornerstone since its_______.

New sophisticated technology has altered the stock exchange _______. The army of clerks was replaced by highspeed computers, which allows to keep track of all ________, to report the transactions to customers immediately, to bring orders to the trading posts electronically and to execute them. Computers are used for what they can do best: to move data around, to store________, and provide information to people. All trades are performed electronically.

To prevent the system from the abuse the exchange has enforced rules governing ethical ________ and established a "stock-watch" electronic system, allowing to control and analyse instantly all trade on the_______.

Governors, who are appointed from the rank of brokers and specialists, watch the market and see to it that all buyers interested in a particular security could_______from an equal footing, only in that case they open the stock trade. All this makes people trust the exchange. 50 million Americans have become________. The NYSE is not just a place, it's a way of doing business.

Words you may need:

universal adj всеобщий, всемирный

to take title (to) получать право собственности (на что-л.)

commission broker комиссионный брокер

specialist n специалист (член фондовой биржи, специализирующийся по одному или нескольким видам ценных бумаг)

flourish v процветать

to give way (to) уступать

post n «пост», место в торговом зале биржи

cornerstone n краеугольный камень

to keep track отслеживать

abuse n злоупотребление

instantly adv мгновенно

from the rank of... из рядов...

equal footing (зд.) равные условия

DISCUSSION

 

Ex. 12. a) Read the texts and do the tasks below.

b) Describe the chief varieties of speculators on the stock exchange.

 

a) Bulls, Bears and Stags

 

The buying of something cheap at one time for the purpose of selling the same thing dearer at another time is speculation. Whilst in a sense all deals are speculations, the term is generally limited to circumstances where profit is made because the same thing has different prices at different times. Anyone who does so is said to be a speculator. A speculator on the stock exchange is a person who backs the judgments he makes about likely developments by buying or selling shares. The chief varieties of speculators on the stock exchange are known as "bulls", "bears" and "stags".

A speculator may buy shares, for which he cannot or does not wish to pay at the time, in the hope that "during the account", i.e. before the date of payment, the price will have risen and he can then sell them at a profit. A buyer who buys like this in the hope of a rise in prices is a "bull".

Bears are pessimistic speculators who expect a fall in share prices. They therefore sell any shares they have now, and even shares they do not have, because, if prices fall as expected, the shares will be available in a few hours or a few days at lower prices than at present.

In both cases the success of the speculation depends both on a correct forecast of the security price movement and on a sufficiently long time interval before payment or delivery must be made. It quite often happens that "bulls" or "bears" are wrong in their anticipations, or that they are convinced that by holding out even beyond settlement day they could still make a profit.

To meet this case a delaying procedure has been evolved which allows the speculators to let their bargains stand over until the following settlement day. This is known as "contango" or "continuation". Arrangements for such "carry-overs" are made on the first day of the new account which is known as "Contango Day".

Stags are speculators who operate in the "new issues" market rather than on the Stock Exchange, although they must use the Stock Exchange before they can realize any profit. What a stag does is to apply for shares that are just being issued and are likely to be oversubscribed. He does not want to keep the shares, or invest in the company that is issuing them, but simply to make a profit out of the issue. The stag expects that the stock, upon issue, will quickly rise to a premium in the market, and he will then sell his stock at a profit. The activities of "stags" have been greatly reduced in recent years.

Words you may need:

 

bull n «бык», покупатель ценной бумаги, играющий на повышение

bear n «медведь», продавец ценной бумаги, играющий на понижение

stag n спекулянт, покупающий новые ценные бумаги при объявлении подписки в надежде продать их с прибылью после начала торговли на вторичном рынке

speculation n спекуляция, купля-продажа ценных бумаг для получения прибыли

speculator n лицо, занимающееся спекуляцией

account n операционный период на фондовой бирже

anticipation n ожидание

contango n отсрочка расчета по сделке

carry - over n отсрочка сделки

new issue новый выпуск (ценных бумаг)

shares that... are likely to be over-subscribed акции, подписка на которые, по ожиданиям, превысит предложение

premium n премия (сумма, на которую цена, заплаченная за акцию, превышает ее номинальную стоимость)

 

с) Explain how trading in options differs from buying and selling stocks:

 

b) Options and Short Selling

 

Not all stock market speculation takes the form of buying and selling stocks whose prices are likely to change. Options and short selling allow a speculator to profit from movements in a stock's price without holding the stock itself.

An option is a security that gives its holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a set price during a specified time period. Options are classifed as either call or put options. A "call" is an option to buy a particular asset whereas a "put" is an option to sell it. Examples of options include calls and puts on common stock, warrants, and convertible securities.

An investor anticipating a rise in a share can buy a "call" option which, for a specified period, gives him the right to buy this share at an agreed price. If he expects a fall he will buy a "put" option which entitles him to sell. A premium called "option money" is payable for the privilege. If the rise (or fall) in the share is greater than the premium, he will exercise his option and make a profit; if not, he will let the option lapse. In either case his risk is limited to the premium. In a "bull" market most options will be for the "call", in a "bear" market most will be for the "put".

Short selling is a third way to profit from an expected drop in the price of a stock. A short sale is a sale of borrowed shares.

Words you may need:

option n опцион

short selling «короткая продажа»

warrant n варрант

convertible security конвертируемая ценная бумага

anticipate v ожидать, предвидеть

option money опционнаяпремия

to exercise an option исполнитьопцион

lapse v (зд.) терять силу

d) Explain what can help shareholders make decisions about selling or buying shares:

 

c) Events on the Stock Market raise a lot of questions for anyone holding or thinking of buying shares: "Is it all just a gamble?" "Is this a good time to buy?" "What experts can we turn to for reliable advice about when and what shares to buy?" More and more people nowadays ask the question: "How is the Market?"

Normally, the results of trading on any stock market are widely reported. The financial sections of newspapers around the world carry the complete results of each day's trading. In the US, on each business day the Wall Street Journal containts price quotations. Prices are traditionally calibrated in eighths of a dollar, so:

1/8 = $.125

1/4 = $.25

3/8 = $.375

1/2 = $.50

5/8 = $.625

3/4 = $.75

7/8 = $.875

Changes in quotations can be expressed in per cent and in basis points.

Along with stock price quotations, in the practical world of finance, there are other indications that help to summarize stock market performance, to understand the motion of prices.

There are two types of stock price indications – averages and indices.

The averages are based on small samples of key stocks and comprise the industrial average, transportation average, utilities average and the composite average. The indices draw on a large representative sample of stocks and comprise a set of sectoral, industry and subindustry indices together with a composite equity market index.

There are literally hundreds of stock market indices in use around the world. They differ primarily by the mode of weighting and computation. The bulk of these are weighted by the capitalization of the company's common stock.

In the US the most frequently quoted stock market index is the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), which is based on the stock prices of thirty large, well-established industrial corporations. Another frequently quoted stock market index in the US is the Standard and Poor's 500 Stock Price Index (S & P 500). It is significantly broader than the DJIA. Many stock market watchers prefer broader averages, in particular, the New York Stock Exchange composite average, which covers all stocks traded on that exchange. In the UK, investors watch the FT-SE 100 Share Index, popularly known as "Footsie". It is an index of 100 leading UK shares listed on the International Stock Exchange and provides a minute by minute picture of how share prices are moving. It started on 3rd January 1984 with the base number of 1,000.

FT index refers to the Financial Times Industrial Ordinary Share Index, also known as the "30 Share Index". This started in 1935 at 100, and is based on the prices of 30 leading industrial and commercial shares. They are chosen to be representative of British industry, rather than of the Exchange. The Institute of Actuaries in London and the Faculty of Actuaries in Edinburgh had compiled a broadly-based Actuaries Investment Index each month since 1929. But the advent of computerization paved the way for the daily computation of a greatly expanded index, known as the FT-Actuaries All-Share (FT-A) Index, from 1962.

Words у аи may need:

gamble n азартная игра

calibrate v (зд.) выражать

basis point базовый пункт

motion n движение

average n индекс курсов ценных бумаг

index n(pl indexes or indices ) фондовый синтетический индекс

sample n проба, образец

sectoral adj отраслевой

weighting взвешивание (стат.)

computation и вычисление(я), подсчеты

composite average составной индекс

Financial Times (FT) Actuaries All Share Index (FTА) Фондовый индекс всех акций (публикуется газетой «Файнэншл Таймc», Институтом актуариев в Англии и Факультетом актуариев в Шотландии)

Ex. 13. Read the dialogue, sum up its content and act it out:

Russian Company Breaks Onto the New York Stock Exchange

Correspondent: VimpelCom's appearance on NYSE is an historic event for Russia, as it marks this country's crossing the border to join the world market. This is real evidence that Russia is progressing toward a market economy. Is it a great event for the Exchange, too?

Executive Vice-President: Sure. The New York Stock Exchange has always encouraged the listing of foreign companies. And the first company from the former USSR – which only a few years ago was the antithesis of a free market economy – is a symbol of a new world economy, the economy of the third millennium. It is a great event not only for Russia and our Exchange, but for all free market economies on earth.

Cor.: New York City has two stock exchanges; there are another seven elsewhere in America, and hundreds across the world. Why has NYSE been unquestionably the leading one for such a long time in such a competitive industry as securities? Your answer will be valuable to the organizers of new stock exchanges in Russia.

EVP: The most important part of our name is "New York". This town is a financial capital of the world. But the location of the Exchange is only part of the answer to your question. The Exchange itself was largely responsible for creating the financial leadership of the city. When NYSE was established in 1792, the Federal Government and our central bank were situated in Philadelphia. But during the following decades, New York gradually surpassed Philadelphia as the commercial and financial center of America. The brokers of the New York Stock Exchange helped to bring about that change.

Cor.: Is it possible that Russia's "NYSE" may eventually be located in St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg rather than Moscow?

EVP: Why not? The most successful exchange will be created by the people who have the best strategic approach and the most flexibility.

Cor.: Resistance to change is part of the human condition, and Wall Street is no different, is it?

EVP: Yes, a good example is the advent of financial futures, which Wall Street initially opposed but Chicago embraced. Today, the synergy between the Chicago derivative markets and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is a significant contributor to the strength of the US financial system. But the most dramatic evidence can be seen from the ending of fixed commissions for brokers in 1975. Average trading volume that year was under 20 million shares per day. Today, the average daily volume is 430 million shares per day.

Cor.: Many believe that the primacy of the New York Stock Exchange is due not only to the accident of its location, but also to an accident of history.

EVP: Yes, undoubtedly. NYSE is an auction/agency market, the most economically efficient for trading stocks because customers can trade with each other directly.

Cor.: Is NYSE involved in politics?

EVP.: In our Statement of Buiness Conduct and Ethics, we have a rule that no funds or assets of the Exchange can be contributed to any political party or organization, or to any candidate for public office. Our business is securities, not politics.

Words you may need:

antithesis n полная противоположность

millennium n тысячелетие

surpass v превосходить

advent n приход, появление

financial futures финансовые фьючерсы

synergy n синергия, бóльшая эффективность в результате слияния

derivative market рынок производных ценных бумаг

primacy n первенство

Ex. 14. Give extensive answers to these discussion questions:

 

1. What type of market is the stock exchange?

2. What services does the stock exchange render to the investor?

3. Is the stock exchange a highly organized market? Why?

4. Do the dealings on the stock exchange affect the prosperity of a working man?

5. Is the stock market/stock exchange important to industry and the government?

6. What does the broker do? How does he earn his living?

7. What part does the speculator play on the stock exchange?

8. Who would normally deal with the issue of new shares?

9. Is there ever a time when no one is buying and selling?

10. How long does business continue before every deal is settled up?

11. What are the functions of an issuing house?

12. How are securities traded on the OTC?

13. How can you explain numerous exchanges that sprung up in this country?

14. How can you account for internationalization of the stock market?

15. Will Europe have a single European Securities Market?

In order to get prepared for participation in the class discussion of the questions, write a short essay on the following:

 

a) People engaged at the stock exchange: market makers, bulls, bears, stags, speculators, specialists.

b) Existing types of stock market.

c) Stock market indices.

Ex. 15. Prepare a short talk on the following:

 

a) The connection between the riskiness of securities and their rates of return. How can risk be reduced through diversification?

b) A profile of a profitable Russian company covering in detail buying, selling and issuing securities.

c) Classification of markets (draw on the information from the exercises of this unit).

d) Do you own any shares? If so, say why. If not, explain your decision. (Is it because the Russian market is still thin or because investors are not properly protected against losses caused by decline in stock prices?)