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UNDATED ISSUE

A floating-rate note with no stated maturity date (see also “perpetual floating-rate note”).

UNDERWRITER

The securities dealer who purchases a bond or note issue from an issuer and resells it to investors. If a syndicate or selling group is formed, the underwriter who coordinates the financing and runs the group is called the senior or lead manager.
The difference between the offering price to the public by the underwriter and the purchase price the underwriter pays to the issuer. The underwriter’s expenses and selling costs are usually paid from this amount.

UNIT

A fractional, undivided interest in a unit investment trust.

UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST

An investment fund created with a fixed portfolio of investments to provide a steady, periodic flow of income to investors.

UNLIMITED TAX BOND

A bond secured by the pledge of taxes that are not limited by rate or amount.

UNSECURED DEBT

Debt with a claim for repayment that ranks last after all other forms of debt securities in the event of a corporate liquidation.

UNWEIGHTED/WEIGHTED INDICES

Stock indices are calculated in two ways, weighted or unweighted. Unweighted indices are simple arithmetic or geometric averages. With weighted indices certain stocks carry a greater weighting than others, usually based on their market value or capitalization.

UPSTREAM

An oil industry term refers to the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas, in contrast with the downstream refining and marketing of oil products.

U.S. SAVINGS BOND

A non-marketable bond issued by the U.S. Treasury in face value denominations designed for individual investors. Since savings bonds are direct obligations of the U.S. Government, the credit quality is the highest available. Each bond is a registered security for which a record is maintained by the Bureau of the Public Debt. Interest from savings bonds are exempt from state and local taxes, and unlike most investments no federal tax is due until the bond is redeemed. Two categories of bonds are currently available for purchase-Series EE and series I. For more information on purchasing savings bonds go to www.treasurydirect.gov.