Penny-Pinching (Penny-Pincher)
A "penny-pincher" is someone who is extremely frugal and who counts every penny. The English dramatist Thomas Dekker (1572-1632) wrote "Hang these penny-pinching fathers" in his…
Permabear (Perma-bear)
A "permabear" (or "perma-bear" or "perma bear") is a person who believe that the stock market will go down -- a "bear market" pessimist or "permanent…
Permabull (Perma-bull)
A "permabull" (or "perma-bull" or "perma bull") is a person who believe that the stock market will go up -- a "bull market" optimist or "permanent…
Permawrong (Permaright)
"Permabull" has been cited in print since at least 1994 and "permabear" since at least 1995. It's been said that the permabears and permabulls can be "permawrong"…
Pet Bank
'Pet bank" is a derisive term that was applied to state banks that were selected to receive government deposits in 1833, taking the place of the Second United States Bank that President…
Pet Rock (gold nickname)
"Pet rocks" were a fad in the 1970, started by advertising executive Gary Dahl. Dahl sold the worthless rocks, along with a joke insruction booklet for handling the "pet." Gary…
Peter Pan Economics (Peter Pan Economy)
J. M. Barrie's character of "Peter Pan" ("the boy who wouldn't grow up") has been featured in novels, stage plays, musicals and films. Peter Pan believes to himself…
Petrodollar
A "petrodollar" (petroleum + dollar) is a United States dollar earned by a country (such as an OPEC country) in the sale of its petroleum exports to another country. Georgetown University…
Petrogold
"Petrodollar" has been cited in print since 1973; "petrogold" has been cited in print since at least 2008. The "petrogold" term was popularized on the blog Zero Hedge…
Phyz or Phyzz (physical asset)
A "physical" asset means possesion of the actual thing, not a paper promise for it. "Physical" gold or silver means having actual gold or silver, not paper certificates for it.…
Piggy Bank
A "piggy bank" is a vessel where money can be inserted; it was originally shaped like a pig, but can be other animals and objects. "Pig bank" is cited in print from 1895 and…
PIIGS (Portugal + Italy + Ireland + Greece + Spain)
The acronym "PIGS" (Portugal + Italy + Greece + Spain) stands for the economies of these four European nations and has been cited in print since at least December 2007. The acronym…
PIMPCO (PIMCO nickname)
PIMCO (the Pacific Investment Management Company) was founded in 1971; it now has over a trillion dollars in investments. "PIMPCO" is an obvious nickname, used by those who believe that…
PITS (Philippines + Indonesia + Thailand + Singapore)
The acronym “PIT” (Philippines + Indonesia + Thailand) stands for the economies of these three ASEAN nations and has been cited in print since at least December 2001, when the term was used by…
Pizzaflation (pizza + inflation)
"Pizzaflation" (pizza + inflation) is an infrequently used term. As printed in a 1987 newspaper. "pizzaflation" meant the inflation of pizza crust. A 2012 blog described…
Plain Vanilla (simple financial tools and methods)
Vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream, so lots of people must like it. "Plain vanilla," however, is something that is basic, standard, and perhaps also drab and dull. As late as…
PM (precious metals)
Precious metals are rare metallic chemical elements of high economic value, such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. The term "PM" for "precious metals" has been cited in…
Poison Pill
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Shareholder rights planA shareholder rights plan, colloquially known as a "poison pill", or simply "the pill" is a kind of defensive tactic…
Polterheist (poltergeist + heist)
"Polterheist" (poltergeist + heist) is a made-up word that is used in jokes. The movie Poltergeist (1982) popularized the title word. "Idea for a film: 'Polterheist' George…
Ponzi Scheme
A "Ponzi scheme" is the method developed by Charles Ponzi (1882-1949), using international reply coupons for postage stamps, to allegedly make money for investors. Ponzi's method was…