FIRM

( foreign investment risk matrix)

Graph that displays financial and political risk by intervals on which countries may be compared according to risk ratings. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary

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▪ I. firm firm ¹ [fɜːm ǁ fɜːrm] noun [countable] ORGANIZATIONS

a company or business, especially one which is quite small:

• The eight-volume guide contains entries for 700,000 lawyers and 44,000 law firms.

• a firm of chartered accountants

• The auditing services market is dominated by a small number of large accounting firms.

conˈsulting firm ORGANIZATIONS

a company that gives advice and training in a particular area to people in other companies; = CONSULTANCY

ˈsearch firm ORGANIZATIONS

a company that finds people with the right skills and experience to do a particular job for employers that need them; =HEAD-HUNTER:

• A search firm contacted him to talk about a chief executive position.

• The company has hired an executive search firm to help identify candidates.

word focus - ˈsearch firm

company, firm, business, corporation

A company is an organization that produces goods or provides a service for profit. A firm is a company, especially one that provides a service rather than goods, for example financial or legal services. A business is usually a company that employs a small number of people. A corporation is a large company, especially one consisting of many smaller companies.

Abbreviations used after company names

Co. company:

• J.P. Morgan & Co.

Corp. corporation:

• Microsoft Corp.

Inc. incorporated (= used in the US to show that a company is a corporation ) :

• Apple Computer Inc.

Ltd limited (= used in the UK and Canada to show that a company is a limited ( liability) company ) :

• Associated Newspapers Ltd

PLC public limited company (= a limited company whose shares are bought and sold freely ) :

• Pearson PLC

Pty proprietary company (= used in Australia and South Africa ) :

• Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

  [m0] ▪ II. firm firm ² verb [intransitive, transitive]

FINANCE if prices on a financial market firm to a particular level, they rise to that level:

firm to

• Sales volume hit £53 million as the shares firmed 19p to 126p.

  [m0] ▪ III. firm firm ³ adjective [only before a noun]

1. firm decisions, judgements, or offers are final and not likely to be changed:

• The Confederation of British Industry said it was too early to make firm forecasts about demand.

• The airline has firm orders for 20 Airbus A321 medium-range jets.

2. FINANCE stocks, shares, prices etc which are firm have been rising and do not seem likely to fall:

• The Federal Reserve chairman implied that the US would keep interest rates firm.

• OPEC members need firm prices to maintain their revenues.

• The dollar ended the week on a firm note (= with a steady price ) .

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Ⅰ.

firm UK US /fɜːm/ noun [C]

► WORKPLACE a company or business: »

The firm's share price has been rising steadily.

»

The firm remains heavily dependent on North America, its biggest market.

big/medium-sized/small firm »

Small and medium-sized firms accounted for 69.8% of the UK business population.

leading/major/top firm »

He hired a top firm of architects and re-mortgaged the family home to finance the project.

accounting/law/manufacturing, etc. firm »

Local manufacturing firms are under heavy competitive pressure, often from off-shore production.

set up/start (up)/establish a firm »

Her grandfather had set up the firm soon after the war.

run/manage a firm »

The firm was run from an office in Bolton.

»

She joined the family firm soon after leaving school.

→ See Note COMPANY(Cf. ↑company)

→ See also CONSULTING(Cf. ↑consulting), SEARCH FIRM(Cf. ↑search firm)

Ⅱ.

firm UK US /fɜːm/ adjective

► agreed or decided and not likely to change: firm date/deadline »

I was given a firm deadline of April 30.

firm bid/commitment »

The group said it has a firm commitment to sell two radio stations in Chicago to minority partners.

firm order/offer »

They already have firm orders for much of the new stock.

firm decision »

We haven't made a firm decision as yet.

► FINANCE used to describe a price or level that is high and is likely to rise or stay high: »

Home prices are edging higher as builders pay record prices for lumber, and tight supplies should keep prices firm next year.

→ See also STEADY(Cf. ↑steady)

● hold firm — Cf. hold firm

firmness noun [U]

► »

the firmness of the bond market

Ⅲ.

firm UK US /fɜːm/ verb [I]

► FINANCE to remain at the same level, amount, etc. or to rise slightly: »

In industries such as paper, chemicals, and steel, prices have firmed.

firm to sth »

Copper firmed 1.8 cents to 142.1 cents a pound.

firm against sth »

The dollar, meanwhile, firmed against the euro in the wake of the interest rate rise.

»

Bank shares firmed on expectations that the Reserve Bank would leave interest rates untouched.