What Is an Inflation-Protected Security (IPS)? An inflation-protected security (IPS) is a type of fixed-income investment that guarantees a real rate of return. This means the annual percentage return realized is adjusted for changes in prices due to inflation or other external effects. Expressing rates of return in real values rather than in non-inflation-adjusted terms, especially during periods
What Is an Inflation Trade? An inflation trade is an investing strategy or trading method that seeks to profit from rising price levels influenced by inflation or expectations of coming inflation. Key Takeaways An inflation trade is an investing strategy or trading method that seeks to profit from rising price levels influenced by inflation or
What Is an Inflexible Expense? An inflexible expense is one that cannot be adjusted or eliminated by a company or individual. It is often the result of a contractual obligation or a long-term obligation that can not be easily adjusted or discontinued. Inflexible expenses are often called fixed expenses. Key Takeaways An inflexible expense is
What Are Indexed Earnings? Indexed earnings is a calculation the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to determine Social Security benefits by taking inflation into consideration. Inflation is the rate at which prices increase within an economy over a period of time. The amount someone collects from Social Security after retirement or disability after an injury
What Are Index Funds? An index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) with a portfolio constructed to match or track the components of a financial market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500). An index mutual fund is said to provide broad market exposure, low operating expenses
What Are Index Futures? The term index futures refers to futures contracts that allow traders to buy or sell a contract that is derived from a financial index today to be settled at a future date. Originally intended for institutional investors, index futures are now open to individual investors as well. Traders use these contracts
What Is Index Investing? Index investing is a passive investment technique that attempts to generate returns similar to a broad market index. Investors use this buy-and-hold strategy to replicate the performance of a specific index—generally an equity or fixed-income index—by purchasing the component securities of the index, or investing in an index mutual fund or exchange traded fund (ETF) that
What Is an Index-Linked Bond? An index-linked bond is a bond in which payment of interest income on the principal is related to a specific price index, usually the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This feature provides protection to investors by shielding them from changes in the underlying index. The bond’s cash flows are adjusted to
What Is an India ETF? An India exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a financial instrument designed to track the performance of a basket of securities listed on a stock exchange in India. An India ETF may mirror the returns of a major index, group of sectors or different cap sizes, providing investors with broad exposure to the burgeoning Indian
What Is the Indian Employment Credit (IEC)? The Indian employment credit (IEC) was a federal tax credit offered by the United States government to employers who hired enrolled members of Indian tribes or their spouses. The credit—equal to 20% of qualified income and benefits—was designed to create an incentive for employers to hire Indigenous Americans
