Previous editions of this comprehensive reference book have been called “required reading for students, investors, and writers” by USA Today, and “a teeming reservoir of information” by the Oakland Tribune. Updated to reflect the 2006 investment climate, the new edition of Barron’s Finance and Investment Handbook presents a financial dictionary of more than 5,000 terms, an analysis of many current investment opportunities, guidelines for non-experts on what to look for when reading corporate reports and financial news sources, an up-to-date directory of hundreds of publicly traded corporations in the United States and Canada, and a directory listing the names and addresses of brokerage houses, mutual funds families, banks, federal and state regulators, and other major financial institutions. Here in one big volume is indispensable information for planning and maintaining a healthy investment portfolio....

More than 5,000 terms related to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, banking, tax laws, and transactions in the various financial markets are presented alphabetically with descriptions. Readers will also find a helpful list of financial abbreviations and acronyms, as well as illustrative diagrams and charts. Here’s a valuable short-entry dictionary for business students, as well as for office reference and the home bookshelves of private investors....