the underwriter is unable to resell the entire issue. All Risk Insurance Marine cargo insurance which covers most perils except strikes, riots, civil unrest, capture, war, seizure, civil war, piracy, loss of market, and inherent vice. Allied member A partner or stockholder of a firm that is a member of the NYSE, the partner or stockholder is not personally a member of the NYSE. Alligator spread The term used to describe a spread in the optionsmarket that generates such a large commission that the client is unlikely to make a profit even if the markets move as the investoranticipated. Allocation-of-income rules US tax provisions that define how income and deductions are to be allocated between domestic source and foreign source income. Allocational efficiency The effectiveness with which a market channels capital toward its most productive uses. Allotment The number of securities assigned to each of the participants in an underwriting syndicate. Alpha Measure of risk-adjusted performance. An alpha is usually generated by regressing the security or mutual fund'sexcess return on the S&P 500 excess return. The beta adjusts for the risk (the slope coefficient). The alpha is the intercept. Example: Suppose the mutual fund has a return of 25%, and the short-terminterest rate is 5% (excess return is 20%). During the same time the market excess return is 9%. Suppose the beta of the mutual fund is 2.0 (twice as risky as the S&P 500). The expected excess return given the risk is 2 x 9%=18%. The actual excess return is 20%. Hence, the alpha is 2% or 200 basis points. Alpha is also known as the Jensen Index. Related: Risk-adjusted return. Alpha equation Regression usually run over 36-60 months of data: Return-Treasury bill= alpha + beta (S&P 500 - Treasury bill) + error. The alpha is the intercept. Note that the benchmark does not necessarily have to be the S&P 500. A mutual fund specializing in international investment might be benchmarked to a broader world market index, such as the MSCI World Index. Alphabet stock Categories of common stock of a corporation associated with a particular subsidiary resulting from acquisitions and restructuring. The various alphabetical categories have different voting rights and pay dividends tied to the operating performance of the particular divisions. See also: Tracking stocks. Alternative investments Usually refers to investments in hedge funds. Many hedge funds pursue strategies that are uncommon relative to mutual funds. Examples of alternative investment strategies are: long--short equity, event driven, statistical arbitrage, fixed income arbitrage, convertible arbritage, short bias, global macro, and equity market neutral. May also refer to the high frequency style of commodity trading advisors who often employ technical and quantitative tools for intraday investments Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) A federal tax aimed at ensuring that wealthy individuals, estates, trusts, and corporations pay a minimal level income tax. For individuals, the AMT is calculated by adding adjusted gross income to tax preference items. Alternative mortgage instruments Variations of mortgageinstruments such as adjustable-rate and variable-rate mortgages, graduated-payment mortgages, reverse-annuity mortgages, and several seldom-used variations. Alternative order Used in context of general equities. Order