What Is an Asset Swapped Convertible Option Transaction (ASCOT)? An asset swapped convertible option transaction (ASCOT) is a structured investment strategy in which an option on a convertible bond is used to separate a convertible bond into its two components: a fixed income piece and an equity piece. More specifically, the components being separated are the
What Is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)? The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization of 10 Southeast Asian and Pacific Rim countries whose governments collaborate to promote socio-cultural, economic, and political advancement in the region. ASEAN is an official observer of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a 21-member economic group
What Are China A-Shares? China A-shares are the stock shares of mainland China-based companies that trade on the two Chinese stock exchanges, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE). Historically, China A-shares were only available for purchase by mainland citizens due to China’s restrictions on foreign investment. However, since 2003, select foreign institutions
What Is Asia ex-Japan (AxJ)? Asia ex-Japan (AxJ) refers to the economic region of countries located in Asia, but not including Japan. These countries are generally considered emerging markets and are of interest to investors looking for high-growth investment opportunities. Meanwhile, Japan is often considered to be a developed economy. Key Takeaways Asia ex-Japan (AxJ) involves
What Is the Asian Century? The term the Asian century refers to the dominant economic and political role that China, India, and their neighbors are expected to play in the 21st century. The concept gained credence following the rapid economic growth of China and India beginning in the 1980s, which propelled both nations into the
What Is the Asian Development Bank? The Asian Development Bank’s primary mission is to “foster economic growth and cooperation” among countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. Founded in 1966 and based in Manila, Philippines, the ADB assists members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development. The ADB
What Was the Asian Financial Crisis? The Asian financial crisis, also called the “Asian Contagion,” was a sequence of currency devaluations and other events that began in July 1997 and spread across Asia. The crisis started in Thailand when the government ended the local currency’s de facto peg to the U.S. dollar after depleting much
What Is the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)? The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a new international development bank that provides financing for infrastructure projects in Asia. It began operations in January 2016. How the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Works The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank headquartered in Beijing. Like other development banks
An Asian option is an option type where the payoff depends on the average price of the underlying asset over a certain period of time as opposed to standard options (American and European) where the payoff depends on the price of the underlying asset at a specific point in time (maturity). These options allow the
What Is an Asian Tail? An Asian tail is an Asian option that bases its payout on the average price of the underlying security in the last several days or weeks of the contract’s life—usually the last ten to twenty days. This is in contrast to an Asian nose, another variant of an Asian option
