As global stock markets tumble, more and more people are seeking out the definitions of various financial terms on the internet in order to make sense of all the turbulence.
According to an analysis of Google search data by London-based financial services provider CMC Markets PLC, the most-searched financial terms — paired with the word "meaning" in recent months — were "ETF (meaning) and "IPO (meaning)," racking up 103,000 and 95,000 average monthly searches, respectively.
These terms were followed in popularity by such terms as "broker" (46,000 average monthly searches), "arbitrage" (23,000), "ADR" (22,000), "bear market" (11,000) and "bull market" (7,600).
"It's not surprising that a lot of people find financial markets terminology baffling," stated Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, in a news release. "As market professionals we have to get used to new acronyms on a regular basis, and that's before you take into account the ones that are in regular use."
Among the more unusual stock market terms that turned up on CMC's list were "to the moon" (4,900 average monthly searches); "dead cat bounce" (3,200); and "whales" (1,800).
"To the moon" (which might be mistaken for Ralph Kramden's catchphrase from the TV classic "Honeymooners"), actually refers to an asset that continuously appreciates in value, according to CMC. The phrase is particularly favored by cryptocurrency traders.
"Dead cat bounce" typically refers to a brief stock market recovery following a large decline, CMC noted, and is similar to a "sucker's rally."
"Whales" does not refer to the huge sea mammals but rather to investors or institutions that have the power to influence stock price movements and thereby manipulate the markets.
A spokeswoman for CMC could not immediately provide additional information.
