principal investment & finance definition
- The
amount of money that is borrowed, excluding the interest charge, that remains
unpaid. Principal also may be part of a monthly payment that reduces the
outstanding balance of a loan. For instance, mortgage payments consist of
principal and interest payments.
- The person
or company who is the main party to a transaction.
- The role
that a broker or dealer plays when selling or buying securities for his or her
own account.
- A company
executive, typically one with an ownership interest in the company.
See principal in Wall Street Words
- The face amount of a bond. Once a bond has been issued, it may sell at more or less than its principal amount, depending upon changes in interest rates and the riskiness of the security. At maturity, however, the bond will be redeemed for its principal amount. Also called principal amount.
- Funds put up by an investor.
- The person who owns or takes delivery of an asset in a trade. For example, an investor is the principal for whom a broker executes a trade.
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