Banking Terms - Set 31 (Unlisted, Underlying Option, Cabinet & Underlying Security)

Unlisted Security

A financial instrument that is not traded on an exchange, but through the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Unlisted securities are also called OTC securities. Market makers facilitate the buying and selling of unlisted securities in the OTC market. Because they are not exchange traded, unlisted securities can be less liquid than listed securities.

Securities must meet a number of requirements to be listed on an exchange. For example, to be listed on an exchange such as the NYSE or AMEX, a publicly traded stock must represent a company that surpasses an annual income or market capitalization threshold. The company also must have issued a specific number of shares and be able to afford the exchange's listing fee, which often exceeds $100,000. These requirements ensure that only the highest quality companies trade on exchanges. Thus, unlisted securities may be of lower quality and present a greater risk to investors.

Underlying Option Security

An underlying option security is the financial instrument on which a derivative's (i.e., an option's) value is based – it provides the price that is used to determine the value of the derivative. An option is classified as a derivative because its value is derived from the underlying security.

An option holder has the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a particular instrument at a specified price and date in the future.

Cabinet Security

A security that is listed under a major financial exchange, such as the NYSE, but is not actively traded. A cabinet security is traded by an inactive investment crowd, and is more likely to be a bond than a stock. 

The cabinets would typically hold limit orders, and the orders were kept on hand until they expired or were executed.

Underlying Security

The security on which a derivative derives its value. For example, a call option on Company X stock gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to purchase Company X’s stock at the price specified in the option contract. In this case, Company X’s stock is the underlying security.

Generally, an underlying security's value should be independently observable by both parties, so that there is no potential for confusion regarding the value of the derivative. Investors dealing in derivatives must closely research the underlying security in order to ensure that they fully understand the factors affecting the value of the derivative.