An increase in the value of invested capital. Investment in fixed-interest securities or bonds provides income but limited capital growth (which may be improved in index-linked gilt-edged securities). To have a chance of making substantial capital growth it is necessary to invest in equities (see ordinary share), the value of which should increase more rapidly than inflation. Investing in equities is thus said to be a hedge against inflation.

See:

growth stocks.

• bull spread
• Bundesbank
• Bundesbond
• bunny bond
• burn-out turnaround
• burn rate
• business combination
• business cycle
• business expansion scheme
• business-interruption policy
• business judgment rule
• business plan
• business property relief
• business rates
• business risk
• business software package
• business strategy
• busted bond
• butterfly
• butut
• buy and hold
• buy and write
• buy-back
• buy earnings
• buyer credit