In trading, an index is a grouping of financial assets that are used to give a performance indicator of a particular sector. The plural term is indices.

When a trader sells an asset at a lower price than they initially paid for it, they have incurred a capital loss. As such, the capital loss is the opposite of capital gain: the profit made when an asset is sold for more than originally paid.

Capital gains tax (or CGT), is the tax levied by the government on the profits made from financial asset sales. CGT regulations and levels vary from country to country.

Capital expenditure, or CAPEX, is the term used for the money spent by businesses on physical assets. It’s an important part of understanding a company’s accounts.