kerb market

Definition

Noun: - A "kerb market" refers to an informal or unofficial market for securities or commodities, typically conducted outside the formal exchange. It is often associated with after-hours trading or black-market transactions, where trading occurs on the street (kerb) rather than on the trading floor.

Usage Examples
  • (Informal trading outside regular hours.)
  • (Unofficial, often illegal, trading.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Kerb market trading": The act of engaging in transactions on the kerb market.

    • Kerb market trading is risky because it lacks regulatory oversight. (Trading outside official channels carries higher risk.)
  • "Kerb market prices": Prices determined in the kerb market, which may differ from official exchange rates.

    • The kerb market prices for gold were significantly higher than those on the official market. (Unofficial pricing reflects scarcity or demand.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Kerb (noun): The edge of a pavement or sidewalk; the term "kerb market" derives from this, as trading traditionally occurred on the street.

    • He stood on the kerb, waiting for a taxi. (The edge of the road.)
  • Kerbside (adj/adv): Relating to or located at the side of the road.

    • Kerbside trading was once common in financial districts. (Trading conducted at the street level.)
Synonyms
  • Black market: An illegal or unofficial market for goods or securities.
  • After-hours market: Trading that occurs after the official exchange closes.
  • Street market: An informal market conducted in public spaces.
Related Idioms
  • On the kerb: Referring to trading or dealing informally.

    • They bought the shares on the kerb, avoiding official fees. (Through an unofficial market.)
  • Kerb crawling: A separate idiom meaning driving slowly along a street to solicit prostitutes (unrelated to financial markets, but shares the word "kerb").

Phrasal Verbs (None directly applicable)
  • No common phrasal verbs are formed with "kerb market" as a unit. The word "kerb" can combine with verbs like "trade" or "sell" in phrases such as "trade on the kerb" (to engage in kerb market trading).