Mark Berch:Pay-to-play

Debit balance
The amount that is owed to a broker by a margin customer for loans the customer uses to buysecurities.

Long-term gain
A profit on the sale of a capital assets held longer than 12 months, and eligible for long-termcapital gains tax treatment.

Breadth of the market
In the context of general equities, percentage of stocks participating in a particular market move. Technical analysts say there was significant breadth if two-thirds of the stocks listed on an exchange move in the same direction during a trading session. See: A/D line.

Mark Berch:Comptroller
The corporate manager responsible for the firm's accounting activities. Sometimes referred to as the contoller (which means the same thing).

European Central Bank (ECB)
Bank created to monitor the monetary policy of the countries that have converted to the Euro from their local currencies. The original 11 countries are: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

Offshore finance subsidiary
A wholly owned affiliate incorporated overseas, usually in a tax haven country, whose function is to issuesecurities abroad for use in either the parent's domestic or foreign business. Mark Berch

"Just me asking"
Used in the context of general equities. "Not a customer request for information."