Haircut - Stock Trader Glossary

The term "haircut" in finance is often used to describe a reduction in the value of an asset or the amount of collateral that is accepted by a lender.

For example, when a bank uses securities as collateral for a loan, it typically applies a haircut to the value of those securities. This reduces the amount of the loan that can be secured by the securities, which helps protect the bank from potential losses if the value of the securities declines.

The size of the haircut depends on a number of factors, including the type of asset being used as collateral, its liquidity, and the creditworthiness of the borrower. Haircuts are used not only in collateralized lending but also in other areas of finance, such as bond trading. In bond trading, a haircut refers to the discount applied to the market value of a bond when it is used as collateral in a repurchase agreement (repo). The size of the haircut depends on various factors such as the creditworthiness of the issuer, the maturity of the bond, and the liquidity of the market.

Additionally, haircuts can be appplied in risk management to account for potential losses in a portfolio. For instance, a portfolio manager might apply a haircut to the value of a security to account for potential price fluctuations and to adjust the portfolio's risk exposure accordingly.

The term "haircut" can also be used to describe the difference between the market value of a financial instrument and the price that is used for margin requirements or collateral. In this context, a high haircut indicates that the financial instrument is considered to be risky and may require a larger margin or more collateral.

In summary, a haircut is a reduction in the value of an asset or the amount of collateral that is accepted by a lender. The size of the haircut depends on various factors, and it is typically applied to reduce the lender's risk of loss.