exchange, bill of

exchange, bill of

also called  draft  or  draught 

      short-term negotiable financial instrument consisting of an order in writing addressed by one person (the seller of goods) to another (the buyer) requiring the latter to pay on demand (a sight draft) or at a fixed or determinable future time (a time draft) a certain sum of money to a specified person or to the bearer of the bill.

      The bill of exchange originated as a method of settling accounts in international trade. Arab merchants used a similar instrument as early as the 8th century AD, and the bill in its present form attained wide use during the 13th century among the Lombards of northern Italy, who carried on considerable foreign commerce. Because merchants (the buyers) usually retained their assets in banks in a number of trading cities, a shipper of goods (the seller) could obtain immediate payment from a banker by presenting a bill of exchange signed by the buyer (who, in so doing, had accepted liability for payment when due). The banker would purchase the bill at a discount from its full amount because payment was due at a future date; the purchasing merchant's account would be debited when the bill became due. Bills could also be drawn directly on the banks themselves. After the seller received his payment, the bill of exchange continued to function as a credit instrument until its maturity, independent of the original transaction.

      Bills of exchange are sometimes called drafts, but that term usually applies to domestic transactions only. The term bill of exchange may also be applied more broadly to other instruments of foreign exchange, including cable and mail transfers, traveler's checks, letters of credit, postal money orders, and express orders.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bill of exchange — see bill 7 Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. bill of exchange …   Law dictionary

  • bill — n 1: a draft of a law presented to a legislature for enactment; also: the law itself the GI bill ap·pro·pri·a·tions bill /ə ˌprō prē ā shənz /: a bill providing money for government expenses and programs ◇ Appropriations bills originate in the… …   Law dictionary

  • bill —    ♦ bill broker, dealer in bills of exchange.    ♦ bill of adventure, declaration that merchandise shipped is not property of shipowner, whose liability is limited to safe delivery.    ♦ bill of costs, solicitor s account of charges.    ♦ bill… …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • Bill of exchange — General term for a document demanding payment. The New York Times Financial Glossary * * * bill of exchange ˌbill of exˈchange abbreviation b/​e or bill noun bills of exchange PLURALFORM …   Financial and business terms

  • bill of exchange — General term for a document demanding payment. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * bill of exchange ˌbill of exˈchange abbreviation b/​e or bill noun bills of exchange PLURALFORM [countable] …   Financial and business terms

  • bill — As a legal term, this word has many meanings and applications, the most important of which are set forth below: Bill of Rights. A formal and emphatic legislative assertion and declaration of popular rights and liberties usually promulgated upon a …   Black's law dictionary

  • bill — As a legal term, this word has many meanings and applications, the most important of which are set forth below: Bill of Rights. A formal and emphatic legislative assertion and declaration of popular rights and liberties usually promulgated upon a …   Black's law dictionary

  • Exchange — The marketplace in which shares, options and futures on stocks, bonds, commodities and indices are traded. Principal US stock exchanges are: New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE), American Stock Exchange ( AMEX) and the National Association of… …   Financial and business terms

  • exchange — An association of persons who participate in the business of buying or selling futures contracts or futures options. A forum or place where traders gather to buy or sell economic goods. With the advent of the computerized exchange, it is… …   Financial and business terms

  • exchange — exchanger, n. /iks chaynj /, v., exchanged, exchanging, n. v.t. 1. to give up (something) for something else; part with for some equivalent; change for another. 2. to replace (returned merchandise) with an equivalent or something else: Most… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”