B

Glossary · PSX term

Beta.

Beta estimates how sensitive a stock has been to market moves. It is a historical risk measure, not a forecast of future performance.

Definition

A beta above 1 suggests the stock has tended to move more than the market, while a beta below 1 suggests lower sensitivity. It can change over time and should be used with liquidity, sector, and event risk.

Worked example

If a stock has a beta of 1.3, it has historically moved about 30% more than the benchmark directionally, though actual daily moves can differ sharply.

Related on PSX Clarity

Market capitalization

More glossary terms

Browse all 199 terms →

Bonus shares are additional shares issued to existing shareholders without a cash payment. They increase the number of shares held, while the share price usually adjusts to reflect the larger share count.

Book closure is the period when a company closes its shareholder register to determine who is eligible for a dividend, bonus, right share, or meeting vote.

Book value is the accounting value of a company's net assets. PSX investors often compare it with market price, especially for banks and asset-heavy businesses, but it does not capture every business strength or risk.

A brokerage fee is the cost charged by a broker when buying or selling shares. It reduces net returns and should be included when comparing portfolio performance.

A bull market is a sustained period of rising stock prices and positive investor sentiment.

A bear market is a sustained period of falling prices, usually a drop of 20% or more from a high.

Blue-chip stock

A blue-chip is a large, established, financially sound company with a track record of stable performance.

Book-building is a process where institutional investors bid to set the IPO price before the public offer.

Broker sub-account

A sub-account is a client account held within a broker's main CDC account at the depository.