What Is Maintenance Of Equipment?

An item in a railroad report specifying charges necessary to keep all the company's rolling stock, marine equipment and repair shops in good condition.

What Is Maintenance Of Way And Structures?

An important item of railroad operating expenses, including all charges of maintaining the permanent way and structures of the road in good condition.

What Is The Meaning Of Manipulation?

A term applied in speculation to the various operations employed in moving quotations up or down in the market. Various methods are employed for affecting the prices of securities, such as dissemination of reports, sometimes true and sometimes false, to affect the prices of particular stocks; circulation of rumors, coloring of news or suppression of facts. In Wall Street these rumors are often most potent in affecting stock quotations. There are more positive ways of manipulating prices, such as by "wash sales." "Washing" consists of buying and selling a security at the same price and time. The operator desires to advance a stock in price, so gives to one broker an order to bid the stock up; that is, the broker is instructed to offer to buy a certain amount of stock, bidding for each lot ⅛ of one per cent, above the last price paid. At the same time, the operator gives another broker an order to sell the same amount of stock at similar prices. The operator raises the price of the stock without actually buying anything. If the operator desires to depress the price of a stock, similar, but reversed methods are employed. Pools are frequently formed in Wall Street to manipulate stocks.

What Is A Margin?

Money deposited with a broker by a customer to buy securities. It is really a payment down on the cost of the securities to secure the broker against loss. The amount of margin required by a broker varies from 5% to 20% of the par value, according to the kind of security dealt in, or the character of trading done. The average margin is about 10%.

Stocks or bonds bought on margin by a broker for a customer, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, are subject to the order of the customer. A customer has the right to demand delivery of the securities at any time on payment of the balance due on them, including commissions and interest on other proper expenses or charges. Unless there is a specific agreement to the contrary, the broker may, at any time, on giving formal notice, require the customer to "take up" and pay in full for the stocks or other securities which are being carried. If the customer be short of stocks, the broker may demand that he buy the stocks or close his account.

What Is The Value Of A Mark?

A German coin of the value of 23.8 cents.

What Is Meant By Market Is Off?

Any decline from former quotations.