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    Green Finance

    Climate change poses huge challenges for the financial sector, too. The Bundesbank supports the transition to a low-carbon economy.

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    • Overview Bundesbank
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    SDMX Web Service

    The Bundesbank provides a new procedure for the automated download of statistical data sets. The web service offers an interface for programmatic access.

    SDMX Web Service
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    Time series databases

    The Bundesbank’s up-to-date statistical data in the form of time series (also available to download as a CSV file or SDMX-ML file).

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  • Cashless money transfer ©Maria Lungwitz
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    Bank sort codes search

    Here you will find information on the bank sort code file and on the bank sort code update service. You can also download the bank sort code files.

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    • Overview Service
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    In the press area, you will find press releases, speeches, guest contributions and interviews with Bundesbank Executive Board members as well as further press materials.

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  1. Homepage
  2. Glossary

Glossary

Glossary

What will I find in this section?

Technical terms, unfortunately, cannot always be avoided – particularly when it comes to complex topics such as monetary policy. This is why we have compiled a glossary with a wide range of terms, arranged in alphabetical order and each with a short explanation.

32 results
  • DAX (Deutscher Aktienindex)

    The Deutscher Aktienindex, or DAX, is Germany’s best known stock market index and tracks the performance of the 40 largest German companies in terms of market capitalisation (stock market value) and exchange turnover. Up to September 17th, 2021 it tracked 30 German companies. It allows a quick assessment of current market conditions and serves as a benchmark for the German stock market. The DAX started from a base value of 1,000 index points on 31 December 1987 and has been published by Deutsche Börse AG since 1 July 1988. If the DAX stands at 10,000 index points, for instance, the value of the shares contained in it has increased tenfold since then. The DAX as communicated in the media is a performance index, which includes dividend payments. The DAX is additionally quoted as a pure price index, i.e. without counting dividend payments. To be listed in the DAX, companies must meet various criteria. They are required to follow very strict transparency rules and meet certain conditions in terms of market capitalisation, exchange turnover and corporate profit. Deutsche Börse AG decides on the composition of the DAX.

    See also

    • Equity market
    • Equity share
    • Exchange
    • Performance index
    • Price index
    • Security

    Further information

    • How wacky is the DAX? The changing structure of German stock market volatility Discussion paper 18/2003: Jelena Stapf, Thomas Werner
      25.11.2003 18/2003 | 581 KB, PDF
    • Ownership structure in the German equity market: general trends and changes in the financial crisis Article from the Monthly Report September 2014
      22.09.2014 | 258 KB, PDF
  • Debit card

    A debit card – a plastic card the same size as a credit card – is a cashless payment instrument which is issued by financial institutions to their customers. It is also known as girocard. Details of the debit card holder's account are stored on the debit card. To effect a payment, these details are read from the card via an electronic point-of-sale terminal and a debit to the debit card holder's account for the amount of the payment is activated. However, the payer must first authorise the payment by entering a secret number in the point-of-sale terminal. In a variant of this procedure – the electronic direct debit system – debit card holders authorise a debit to their account by signing the sales voucher. In contrast to a credit card payment, when using a debit card the payer's account is debited rapidly.

    See also

    • Credit card
    • Direct debit
    • Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
    • Payment transactions
  • Debt brake

    The debt brake is a budgetary rule laid down in the German constitution since 2009, which since 2011 has set out mandatory requirements for the Federal Government and the states to gradually reduce the budget deficit. From 2016, the Federal Government's annual structural (i.e. not cyclical) deficit must be no more than 0.35% of gross domestic product. As of 2020, net borrowing by the federal states will no longer be permitted. Exceptions to the ban on new borrowing are permitted under certain conditions, however.

  • Debt capital

    Debt capital is that part of an enterprise's total assets which is not provided by the company's owners (equity providers). It is the collective term used to refer to all the liabilities and provisions listed on a company's balance sheet. In this context, liabilities include inter alia bank loans, debt securities issued by the company in question, loans from suppliers and any advance payments received. The debt investor has no stake in the company and serves as the creditor who has a right to repayment (redemption) of his capital and, where appropriate, due interest.

    See also

    • Equity capital
  • Debt security

    The holder of a debt security (creditor) provides the issuer (borrower) with a specific amount for a certain period. The issuer undertakes to pay this amount back to the holder of the debt security upon maturity. The issuer also pays the creditor interest under the terms of the bond. The issuer uses the debt security to raise funds, while it provides the creditor with an interest-bearing investment. Debt securities are issued by public sector bodies (public sector bonds), banks (bank debt securities, Pfandbriefe) and industrial enterprises (corporate bonds). Should the issuer default, creditors’ claims can only be met by the issuer’s estate. The opposite is the case for covered bonds: if the issuer defaults, creditors receive payments from a pool of securities that does not form part of the issuer’s bankrupt’s estate.

    See also

    • Bank debt security
    • Bond
    • ETF (Exchange-traded funds)
    • ETC (Exchange-traded commodities)
  • Debtor

    A debtor is someone who is obliged, within a contractual relationship (e.g. purchase agreement, loan agreement), to perform a particular obligation for the creditor.

    See also

    • Creditor
  • Deficit

    A deficit, or negative budget balance, occurs when spending exceeds revenue. The government budget is said to be in deficit when the state spends more money than it collects in taxes and levies.

  • Deficit spending

    Deficit spending refers to a situation where government institutions step up their expenditure during a recession by taking out additional loans. Deficit spending aims to stimulate demand in the economy and thus boost employment, for instance. Governments should ideally reduce the new debt incurred through deficit spending by running a surplus during the subsequent boom.

    See also

    • Automatic stabilisers
    • Economic activity
  • Deflation

    Deflation refers to a general, sustained decline in the price level. In a deflationary climate, there is the risk of a self-perpetuating downward spiral: if consumers expect prices to continue falling and therefore put their consumption spending on hold, the decline in demand can lead enterpises to cut back production and lower prices even more. Falling prices also increase the real equivalent of outstanding debts and the real interest rates. This tends to also lower demand, especially demand for capital goods. The monetary policy measures that can be used to combat deflation are restricted, as nominal interest rates cannot be reduced to below zero per cent.

    See also

    • Inflation
    • Nominal interest rate
    • Price stability
    • Purchasing power

    Further information

    • Animation videos
  • Demand-pull inflation

    Demand-pull inflation refers to an increase in the general price level due to higher demand for goods and services.

    If demand exceeds the available supply in a market, consumers are generally willing to pay higher prices for products. This gives firms scope to raise the prices of their products. Demand can increase for a number or reasons. Fiscal policy measures such as tax cuts, an increase in social security benefits, or a period of forced consumer restraint (e.g. COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain problems) lead to a situation in which consumers are left with more money in their pockets for consumer spending. The government can also help drive up demand by increasing its spending on consumption and investment. Similarly, monetary policy decisions can play a role in increased demand. Demand-pull inflation can also be imported when there is a rise in foreign demand for domestic products. For example, expansionary monetary or fiscal policy measures in other countries can lead to rising overall demand, thus increasing domestic demand as well, which can fuel imported inflation.

    See also

    • Inflation
    • Exports
    • Fiscal policy
    • Price level
  • Denomination

    The nominal value sequence of a series of coins and banknotes. The denominations of euro coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents as well as 1 and 2 euro, and the denominations of euro banknotes are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro.

  • Deposit

    In banking, a deposit is the money held by a customer in their bank account. There are several types of deposits. Transferable deposits can be accessed by customers at any time by withdrawing or transferring cash, for example. Savings deposits are used to build up savings and are not intended for making payments. Interest rates on savings deposits are generally variable, fluctuating in line with general interest rate movements. Time deposits are deposits held for a fixed period, e.g. three months or one year. Interest on time deposits is usually fixed in advance for the entire term at the time of concluding the contract.

  • Deposit facility

    The deposit facility is a monetary policy instrument of the Eurosystem and provides banks with the permanent opportunity to deposit central bank money with the national central banks until the next business day at a specified interest rate. The deposit facility interest rate (deposit rate) is one of the Eurosystem’s key interest rates. The deposit rate is usually the lower bound of the overnight rate at which banks trade central bank money amongst each other.

    See also

    • Eurosystem
    • Monetary policy instruments
    • Overnight money

    Further informations

    • Standing facilities
  • Deposit guarantee scheme (DGS)

    See

    • European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS)
  • Deposit money

    Deposit money is money held with a bank which a bank customer can access daily. It is only available to the bank "on sight", hence the term "sight deposit". Although deposit money is not legal tender, it is generally accepted as a means of payment. Deposit money can be used to make payments via cashless payment instruments such as credit transfers, direct debits or cheques. It can be converted into cash at any time.

  • Deposit protection

    Deposit protection is a scheme designed to protect bank customers from losing their deposits if their bank becomes insolvent. The statutory deposit protection scheme covers deposits in current accounts, savings accounts, notice accounts and time deposit accounts up to a value of €100,000 per customer. The banking industry in Germany also offers voluntary guarantee schemes for additional protection.

    Further information

    • Deposit protection
  • Depreciation

    See

    • Currency depreciation
  • Deregulation

    Deregulation refers to the removal or reduction of statutory regulations that restrict the functioning of the goods, labour and finance markets. The aim of a more liberal framework (e.g. greater competition) is to increase incentives and broaden the scope for action.

  • Derivatives

    Derivatives in banking language are financial instruments whose prices depend on the price movements in a reference variable, known as the underlying. Underlying assets may be shares, equity indices, government bonds, currencies, interest rates, commodities like wheat and gold, or also swaps. Derivative financial instruments may be unconditional forward transactions or they may be options. They are traded either on futures and options exchanges on standardised terms, or over-the-counter (OTC) on freely negotiated terms. Changes in the price of the underlying lead in certain situations to considerably stronger price changes in the derivative. Derivatives can be used to hedge against financial risks (hedging), to speculate on price changes (trading) or to take advantage of price differences between markets (arbitrage).

    See also

    • Forward
    • Option transaction
    • Option contract
    • Swap transaction
    • Forward transaction
    • Futures contract
  • Deutsche Bundesbank

    The Deutsche Bundesbank is the central bank of the Federal Republic of Germany and has, since monetary union was established, been part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the Eurosystem. The Bundesbank's president is a member of the ECB Governing Council. The Bundesbank therefore plays a role in fulfilling the primary objective of the Eurosystem, namely to maintain price stability. In addition, the Bundesbank implements monetary policy in Germany, is involved in banking supervision, works towards a stable financial and monetary system, ensures that cashless payments can be executed smoothly, manages Germany's foreign reserves and puts cash into circulation. The Bundesbank’s Central Office is in Frankfurt am Main.

    See also

    • European System of Central Banks (ESCB)
    • Eurosystem
    • Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB)
  • Deutsche Mark

    The Deutsche Mark (abbreviated DM, commonly referred to as D-Mark) was the currency of the Federal Republic of Germany from 20 June 1948 to the end of 2001. It was introduced with the currency reform on 20 June 1948, in the three western occupation zones of Germany, where it replaced the Reichsmark. Through the reunification of Germany, it was also adopted as the official currency in eastern Germany on 1 July 1990. Within the framework of Economic and Monetary Union, the euro eventually replaced the Deutsche Mark as legal tender on 1 January 2002, after it had already been introduced as book money on 1 January 1999. The exchange rate was fixed at €1 = DM1.95583. The Deutsche Mark was one of the most stable currencies of its time, gaining the status of the second most important reserve currency in the world, after the US dollar. It was even employed as official currency in other countries.

    Banknotes and coins denominated in Deutsche Mark can be exchanged at the Bundesbank’s branches indefinitely and free of charge.

    See also

    • Book money
    • Currency
    • Currency reform
    • Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
    • Monetary policy
    • Reserve assets

    Further information

    • DEM banknotes and DEM coins
    • Exchanging DEM for euro
    • Circulation of the Deutsche Mark - from the currency reform to European monetary union Article from the Monthly report March 2002
      15.03.2002 | 303 KB, PDF
  • Digital Euro

    See also

    • Central bank digital currency (CBDC)
  • Direct bank

    A direct bank is a bank that does not operate any branches or subsidiaries, and which is only accessible over the telephone, by letter or via the internet for banking business.  Direct banks therefore offer cost advantages, which they can pass on to customers in the form of attractive terms and conditions.

  • Direct debit

    A direct debit is a cashless payment instrument that allows the payee to debit an amount on the payer's account via a bank. Direct debits are useful for irregular or variable payments: they save both time and effort and help to avoid forgetting a payment. Unlike credit transfers, direct debits are initiated by the payee, who has obtained the payer's consent in advance. If the payer does not agree to his or her account being debited, he or she can revoke the direct debit within certain deadlines.

    See also

    • Credit transfer
  • Direct debit mandate (SEPA)

    A SEPA direct debit mandate is the legal basis for collecting SEPA direct debits. A mandate comprises both the payer's approval for the payee to collect the payment via SEPA direct debit and the instruction to the payer's payment service provider to effect the payment.

    See also

    • Creditor identifier
    • Direct debit
    • Mandate reference
    • SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area)
  • Direct investment

    Direct investment is cross-border investment with the aim of establishing subsidiaries in a different country or taking a major capital interest in enterprises abroad such that influence can be exercised over their business operations. Direct investment forms part of the financial accounts; it also includes all transactions between the affiliated enterprises, ie corporate loans. Enterprises make direct investments in other countries in order to tap new sales markets or maintain existing ones, circumvent trade barriers or take advantage of the cost benefits of producing goods abroad. It is not uncommon for host countries to benefit from the transfer of technology associated with direct investment.

  • Direct quotation

    Exchange rates between two currencies can be quoted indirectly or directly. Direct quotation states how much one unit of foreign currency costs  in domestic currency units (eg $1 = €0.73), whereas indirect quotation states how many units of foreign currency you would receive for one unit of domestic currency (eg €1 = $1.37). In foreign exchange trading, the international convention is to quote the euro against all other currencies using the indirect quotation method.

    See also

    • Exchange rate
    • Indirect quotation
  • Discount business

    Discount business is the purchase of trade bills by a bank or a central bank, which deducts interest at the discount rate. In the past, discount business constituted the core business of a central bank, which used the short-term bills it purchased to cover some of the bank notes it issued. As a result of the creation of a single list of collateral for monetary policy transactions in the euro area, the purchase of trade bills was discontinued.

    See also

    • Bill of exchange
  • Disintermediation

    Disintermediation refers to the process of increasing lending via the capital market, circumventing the commercial banks, which were previously the most important financial intermediaries. As monetary policy measures affect commercial banks first and foremost, disintermediation alters and disrupts the monetary policy transmission mechanism.

    See also

    • Capital market
    • Financial intermediary
    • Transmission mechanism
  • Distributed ledger technology (DLT)

    Characterised by its decentralised data storage, distributed ledger technology (DLT) is the technology on which blockchain is based. It is considered to have a promising future, as the decentralised storage of data offers certain advantages over centralised storage. First, it offers protection against system failure, as individual systems which have crashed can always be replaced by other systems. Second, it rules out the possibility of a centralised computer being manipulated.

    See also

    • Blockchain

    Further information

    • Monthly Report: Bundesbank sees benefits in blockchain technology

      19.09.2017

    • Distributed ledger technologies in payments and securities settlement: potential and risks Article from the Monthly Report September 2017
      18.09.2017 | 154 KB, PDF
  • Dividend

    A dividend is the proportion of a public limited company's distributed profits that is allocated to a single share. The dividend yield is the dividend divided by the current share price multiplied by 100. It specifies the return on invested capital per share and is expressed as a percentage.

    See also

    • Equity share
    • Return
  • DLT

    See

    • Distributed ledger technology (DLT)
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