Open-End Investment Company . An investment company that continually sells or redeems its own shares to meet investor demand. Conversely, a closed-end investment company has a finite number of shares that can be bought and sold when available on market exchanges. A contract conveying the right to buy or sell a security, commodity or property interest for an agreed-upon sum during a stipulated period. If it is not exercised during that time, the option expires and becomes worthless.
Options are a popular investment hedge.
A market in which securities are bought and sold by telephone and computer network, rather than on an exchange. Typically, OTC stocks are issued by companies that do not or choose not to meet eligibility requirements to trade on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange.