Fig. 18. Check Register Showing Condition of Bank Account
In no just sense can a broker be held to be the owner of shares of stock which he purchases and carries for a customer, and it is a breach of trust to use this collateral to his own advantage. The certificate of shares of stock is not considered, according to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, property itself; it is but the evidence of the property in the shares.
To sum up, the accounting work in connection with the brokerage business is in taking care of the orders received from customers, being sure that they are correctly interpreted and promptly filled, noting the loans necessary to complete the contract, keeping a careful record of commissions and interest due the house, being watchful in regard to the margins of customers, and arranging all accounts with customers so that they may be kept up to date and instantly available.
GLOSSARY OF BOARD OF TRADE TERMS
BEAR: One who believes the conditions are ripe for a decline in prices, or one who desires such an event. One may believe that the price of a certain security is about to decline and therefore is said to be a bear on that particular security, whereas he may not be so on others. The natural attitude of a bear is that of a seller but he may be so for the sake of buying at a lower price later.
BEARING THE MARKET: An artificial lowering or forcing down of prices.
BID PRICE: The price offered or bid for any security or commodity.
BORROWING STOCK: A broker borrows stock when he has made a contract to deliver and the stock which he has sold, for any one of various reasons cannot be delivered at the time agreed.
BREAK IN THE MARKET: A sudden and considerable decline in price.