Expert: Doug Ingram - 3/30/2007

Question
Hello Sir.
I want to know about the difference between Equity, Bond, Debt and Debentures?
I also want to know what bulls and bears means?
Please sir help me.

thank you

Answer
Equity means you own part of a company.  Shares of stock are shares of ownership.  The stock can go up or down and the company can pay dividends to shareholders.
Bonds are loaning the company or government money.  They are also called debt and sometimes debentures.  You do not own any of the company, but your investment is usually more secure as bonds have some collateral backing them and guarantee timely payments of interest and principal.
(Bonds also have a set maturity and stocks do not.)
Bulls expect the market to go up.
Bears think the market will go down.
This applies to all markets.
You might be bullish the Euro which would make you bearish the Dollar.