What is a Nostro Account? A Nostro account is a bank account that a bank holds with a foreign bank in the currency of the country where the funds are held. The term “nostro” is a Latin word that means “ours,” and it is used to facilitate foreign exchange and international trade transactions involving foreign…
What are Non-Monetary Assets? Non-monetary assets are assets whose value frequently changes in response to changes in economic and market conditions. The assets appear on the balance sheet under intangible and non-current assets. Common examples of non-monetary assets include goodwill, copyrights, inventory, and plant, property and equipment (PP&E). No established market exists for non-financial assets,…
What is a Non-Performing Loan (NPL)? A non-performing loan (NPL) is a loan in which the borrower is in default and has not paid the monthly principal and interest repayments for a specified period. Non-performing loans occur when borrowers run out of money to make repayments or get into situations that make it difficult for…
What is Natural Unemployment? Natural unemployment, or natural rate of unemployment, is the unemployment rate that persists in a well-functioning, healthy economy that is considered to be at “full employment.” It is a hypothetical rate of unemployment and suggests that there is never zero unemployment in an economy. Natural unemployment refers to the unemployment that…
What is a Non-Current Liability? A non-current liability refers to the financial obligations in a company’s balance sheet that are not expected to be paid within one year. Non-current liabilities are due in the long term, compared to short-term liabilities, which are due within one year. Analysts use various financial ratios to evaluate non-current liabilities…
What are Non-Current Assets? Assets that are cash – or that will be converted to cash within the current fiscal period (like accounts receivable and inventory) – are classified as current assets. Non-current assets, on the other hand, will not be converted to cash in the current period. Non-current assets may also be characterized as…
What is a Non-Financial Asset? A non-financial asset refers to an asset that is not traded on the financial markets, and its value is derived from its physical characteristics rather than from contractual claims. Examples of non-financial assets include tangible assets, such as land, buildings, motor vehicles, and equipment, as well as intangible assets, such…
What is a Breach of Covenant? A breach of covenant occurs when the issuer of a debt instrument violates a covenant, which is one of the terms and conditions the debtor committed to as part of the lending agreement. Depending on the type of covenant involved, there can be two types of breaches: Breach of…
What are Assurance Services? Assurance services are an independent examination of a company’s processes and controls. Assurance aims to reduce information risk by improving the quality or context of the information. Accounting professionals are qualified independent practitioners who can perform such services. Reducing risk allows intended users to refrain from making impaired decisions. Thus, assurance…
