When traders talk about the ECB, they are referring to the European Central Bank, the central bank for the Eurozone.

Earnings per share (EPS) is an important metric in a company’s earnings figures. It is calculated by dividing the total amount of profit generated in a period, by the number of shares that the company has listed on the stock market.

Derivatives are financial products that derive their value from the price of an underlying asset. Derivatives are often used by traders as a device to speculate on the future price movements of an asset, whether that be up or down, without having to buy the asset itself.

When trading, DMA stands for direct market access. It’s a way of placing trades that offers more flexibility and transparency than traditional dealing (which is usually referred to as OTC, or over-the-counter). It’s suitable for advanced traders.

Dark pools are networks – usually private exchanges or forums – that allow institutional investors to buy or sell large amounts of stock without the details of the trade being released to the wider market.

A day order is a type of order, or instruction from a trader to their broker, to buy or sell a certain asset.

Blue-chip stocks are the shares of companies that are reputable, financially stable and long-established within their sector. Over time, the companies that are considered blue-chip tend to change, so the exact definition of what is required for blue-chip status can be vague. However, a company that is considered blue-chip will tend to be at or near the very top of its sector, feature on a recognized index, and have a well-known brand.

Brent crude – also referred to as Brent blend – is one of three major oil benchmarks used by those trading oil contracts, futures, and derivatives. The other two major benchmarks are West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Dubai/Oman, though there are many smaller oil varieties traded as well.