Trading Terms Glossary

Your comprehensive guide to stock trading terminology, congressional trading regulations, and financial disclosure requirements. Understand the language of Wall Street and Capitol Hill.

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Legal Terms

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Congressional Trading

Terms related to Congressional trading regulations and requirements

3 terms

PTR Filing

Essential

A Periodic Transaction Report (PTR) is a financial disclosure form that members of Congress must file when they or their spouses conduct stock transactions above certain thresholds.

Examples:
  • Form filed within 45 days of trade execution
  • Includes transaction date, ticker symbol, and amount range
Related Terms:
STOCK Act
Disclosure Deadline
Transaction Date

STOCK Act

Essential

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012 requires members of Congress to disclose their stock trades within 45 days and prohibits insider trading based on non-public information.

Examples:
  • Enacted April 4, 2012
  • Applies to House and Senate members
  • Includes spouses and dependent children
Related Terms:
PTR Filing
Disclosure Deadline
Insider Trading

Disclosure Deadline

Essential

The 45-day requirement for members of Congress to report stock transactions through PTR filings after the trade execution date.

Examples:
  • Trade executed Jan 1st → PTR due by Feb 15th
  • Late filings may result in penalties
Related Terms:
PTR Filing
STOCK Act
Transaction Date
Trading Terms

General stock trading and investment terminology

3 terms

Ticker Symbol

Essential

A unique series of letters assigned to a publicly traded company's stock for identification on stock exchanges.

Examples:
  • AAPL for Apple Inc.
  • TSLA for Tesla Inc.
  • NVDA for NVIDIA Corporation
Related Terms:
Stock Exchange
Public Company
Trading

Asset Type

Important

Classification of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, options, or other securities.

Examples:
  • Common Stock
  • Preferred Stock
  • Stock Options
  • Corporate Bonds
Related Terms:
Securities
Investment
Portfolio

Transaction Date

Essential

The actual date when a stock trade was executed, as opposed to the disclosure date when it was reported.

Examples:
  • Trade Date: Jan 5, 2025
  • Disclosure Date: Feb 10, 2025
Related Terms:
Disclosure Date
Settlement Date
PTR Filing
Most Searched Terms
PTR Filing

Required disclosure form for congressional stock trades

STOCK Act

2012 law regulating congressional trading disclosures

Ticker Symbol

Unique code identifying publicly traded stocks

Disclosure Deadline

45-day requirement for reporting trades

Asset Type

Classification of financial instruments (stocks, options, etc.)

Transaction Date

Actual date when the trade was executed

Understanding Congressional Trading

This glossary helps you navigate the complex world of congressional stock trading. All terms are defined in plain English with examples from real PTR filings. Understanding these terms is crucial for interpreting official disclosure documents and tracking trading patterns effectively.

📚 Educational Purpose🔍 Transparency Focus⚖️ Legal Compliance