Confused By The Economic, Finance & Revenue Canada Terms and Definitions? Get The Answers Here!
B
Balance of Payments
An accounting of all the economic transactions between one country and the rest of the world over a given period. It is composed of the current account and the capital account. In principle, the current account and capital account should balance each other out. If Canada buys more goods, services and the like than it sells (i.e. has a current account deficit), it has to sell its assets, or go into debt, to finance the spending (i.e. run a capital account surplus). In theory, therefore, the balance of payments is always zero. Because so much economic activity now involves financial or monetary transactions, a country's balance of payments provides a good picture of its international transactions.
Balance of Trade
The difference between the value of the goods and services that a country exports and the value of the goods and services that it imports. If a country's exports exceed its imports, it has a trade surplus; if imports exceed exports, the country has a trade deficit.
Bank
Bank for International Settlements
A central banking institution owned and controlled by central banks, with a board comprising the governors of the central banks of the Group of Ten countries. The BIS has become an important forum for international monetary and financial co-operation between central bankers and, increasingly, other regulators and supervisors. For more information, visit the Bank for International Settlements Web site.
Bank of Canada
Canada's central bank. It is responsible for Canadian monetary policy, issuing bank notes, regulating and supporting Canada's principal systems for clearing and settling payments, and acting as fiscal agent for federal government debt. For more information, visit the Bank of Canada Web site.
Bank Rate
The minimum lending rate of the Bank of Canada. It is applied to advances to institutions that are members of the Canadian Payments Association, and to purchase and resale transactions with key investment dealers in the money market. It is also the primary indicator of Bank of Canada monetary policy. The bank rate is an important tool because it is seen as the trend-setter for other short-term interest rates. Changes in the bank rate often lead to changes in the prime rate, which is the rate of interest that commercial banks charge to their lowest-risk customers. Other rates can be affected including those for mortgages, cars and business loans, as well as rates paid to savers on deposits and investment certificates.
Bankers' Acceptance
Short-term negotiable commercial paper issued by a non-financial corporation but guaranteed by a bank.
Basis Point
One one-hundredth of a percentage point. If the bank rate decreased from 5.45% to 5.35%, it went down 10 basis points.
Basle Committee on Banking Supervision
A committee of banking supervisory authorities established by the governors of the central banks of the Group of Ten countries in 1975. The committee provides a forum for regular co-operation between its member countries on banking supervisory matters. For more information, visit the Bank for International Settlements Sponsoring Committees Web page.
Benchmark Bond
Specific issue outstanding within each class of bond maturity. It is considered by the market to be the standard against which all other bonds issued in that class are evaluated.
Bid
Price a buyer is ready to pay for a given asset (e.g. stocks, bonds). The bid-offer spread is the difference between the bid and offer prices.
Bond
A certificate received for a loan made to a company or government. In return, the issuer of the bond promises to pay the lender interest at a set rate and to repay the loan on a set date.
Borrowing Authority
Broker
A securities firm or a registered individual affiliated with one. Brokers are the link between investors and the stock market, handling the public's orders to buy and sell securities, commodities, etc.
Budgetary Spending
The spending over which the federal government has responsibility.
Budgetary Transaction
Transaction that affects the net indebtedness of the government.
Business Cycle
The succession of periods of recession and recovery. Economic activity tends to fluctuate: periods when real gross domestic product (GDP) is falling are called recessions; periods when real GDP is rising are called recoveries.
