National Insurance Contributions (NIC)
What are National Insurance Contributions (NIC)? National Insurance contributions (NIC) are payments made by employees and employers into the National Insurance scheme. The money is used to provide certain social security benefits, such as the state pension and maternity allowance. Employees stopped contributing to the scheme in 2016, but employers still make monthly payments based on their staff's salaries. NICs are...
National Diamond
DefinitionMichael Porter's National Diamond framework resulted from a study of patterns of comparative advantage among industrialized nations. It works to integrate much of Porter's previous work in his competitive five forces theory, his value chain framework as well as his theory of competitive advantage into a consolidated framework that looks at the sources of competitive advantage sourcable from the...
Natural Law
What is 'Natural Law' A set of rules inherent in human behavior and human reasoning that governs human conduct. Natural law is preexisting and is not created in courts by judges. Philosophers and theologians throughout history have differed in their interpretations of natural law, but in theory, natural law should be the same throughout time and across...
National Market System (NMS)
What is a 'National Market System - NMS' A national market system (NMS) is a system with two main functions: 1. To facilitate trading of OTC stocks whose size, profitability, and trading activity meet specific criteria. 2. To post prices for securities on the NYSE and other regional exchanges simultaneously, allowing investors to...
Narrow Basis
What is 'Narrow Basis' A condition found in futures markets in which the spot price of underlying commodities is close to the futures price of the same contract. Explaining 'Narrow Basis' A narrow basis suggests that the market is efficient, as the supply of and demand for the underlying commodity are in equilibrium. ...
National Social Security Fund (China)
What is 'National Social Security Fund (China)' A government-controlled investment fund established primarily to provide a reserve of funds for China's social security system. The fund is managed by the National Council for Social Security Fund. According to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, the National Social Security Fund has approximately $146.5 billion in assets. Explaining...
National Stock Exchange Of India Limited (NSE)
What is the 'National Stock Exchange Of India Limited - NSE' The National Stock Exchange Of India Limited (NSE) is India's largest financial market. Established in 1992, the NSE has developed into a sophisticated, electronic market, which ranks third in the world for transacted volume. The NSE conducts transactions in the wholesale debt, equity and derivative markets....
Nasdaq 100 Index
What is 'Nasdaq 100 Index' An index composed of the 100 largest, most actively traded U.S companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. This index includes companies from a broad range of industries with the exception of those that operate in the financial industry, such as banks and investment companies. Explaining 'Nasdaq 100 Index' ...
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
What is 'National Association of Insurance Commissioners - NAIC' A nationwide organization whose main responsibility is to protect the interests of insurance consumers. Some of the main objectives of the NAIC are to provide support to insurance regulators across the country by promoting competitive markets, the improvement of insurance regulations and equitable treatment of insurance consumers. ...
National Welfare Fund (Russia)
What is 'National Welfare Fund (Russia)' One of two parts of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, the other being the Reserve Fund. The National Welfare Fund invests its funds abroad to counteract inflation in the Russian ruble. Combined, the Reserve Fund and National Welfare Fund make up one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the country....