7 Surprising Ways to Be More Productive At Work
For many, productivity has become an obsession.Whether that’s good or bad is debatable. But increasing output by any means possible is a never-ending quest for some individuals. If that’s you, consider these seven unexpected suggestions.Number 1 is take a break.Employees who do are more productive. Many refuse to, however, because they believe the best way up the corporate ladder is to never rest. Or they believe the competition doesn’t take a lunch, so they can’t either. Wrong.Number 2 is bring your dog to work.Research has shown that employees who bring their pooch to the office work more collaboratively than others. Dogs, somehow, facilitate better communication and relaxed environments. They also give you an excuse to get outside every once in awhile.Number 3 is exercise.Research has also shown workers who exercise at lunch boost their overall performance by about 15%. They manage their time better and report more satisfaction at the end of the day.Number 4, write a blog.Writing for yourself releases tension and organizes your thoughts, helping to keep you focused.Number 5 is get more sleep.Sleep is vital to energy, memory and mental clarity. A lack of sleep causes weight gain, depression — even cancer and heart problems.Number 6, super-size your screen.Studies show bigger monitors help tasks get done faster. Reduce distractions further with a program that wipes away background images on the screen.And number 7 is just say no.When you’re overloaded, tell your boss, and then prioritize your workday projects.
Reviewed by Thomas J. Catalano
What Is the ISIN Numbering System?
The International Securities Identification Numbering system (ISIN) defines an international standard set up by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with ISO 6166:2021 marking the latest incarnation as of May 2024.
The system codes securities including stocks, bonds, options, and futures with unique identification numbers. ISIN identifiers are administered by a national numbering agency (NNA) in each country that currently uses the system.
ISINs work just like serial numbers.
Key Takeaways
- The International Securities Identification Numbering system (ISIN) codes stocks, bonds, options, and futures with unique identification numbers.
- An ISIN identifier code has 12 alphanumeric characters and includes the country in which the issuing company is headquartered, the specific security identification, and a final character that acts as a security check.
- The system has been adopted worldwide.
Understanding the ISIN Numbering System
This complex numbering system dates back to 1981 but wasn’t widely used until 1989 when the Group of 30 (G30) nations called for its broad adoption. ISO joined the system a year later, using the ISO 6166 standard as the initial reference.
ISIN data was distributed on disk until the start of the 21st century when transmission switched to the internet.
The European Union (EU) took an additional step in 2004, mandating the system for a large subset of its regulatory reporting needs.
Elements of the ISIN Number
An ISIN identifier code has 12 alphanumeric characters and is structured to include:
1. the country in which the issuing company is headquartered
2. the specific security identification number
3. a final character that acts as a security check to deter fraud or misuse
The first two characters are reserved for the security’s country of origin or head office of the issuing company. The second grouping, which is nine digits long, is reserved for the security’s unique identifying number. The final digit, known as a “check digit,” assures the code’s authenticity and lowers the frequency of errors or misuse.
The middle nine-digit grouping of the ISIN system number is administered by the local country’s numbering agency, which is CUSIP Global Services in the United States.
This office emerged from the CUSIP Service Bureau, which was created in 1968 to improve the numbering system for securities by developing a national standard for the financial industry. It continues to enforce the numbering system through a board of trustees.
Examples of ISIN Numbers
An ISIN identifier for a fictional American company’s stock certificate may look like the following:
US-000402625-0 (dashes incorporated for simplicity)
The country code, “US”, is placed at the beginning, followed by the nine-digit CUSIP number for the specific security, with the last digit acting as the check digit. On the other hand, a fictional Japanese company’s stock certificate could have an ISIN identifier which appears as follows:
JP-000215864-4 (dashes incorporated for simplicity)
The middle nine digits of ISIN numbers are computer-generated in a complex algorithmic formula. This numbering process is critical in helping to protect against counterfeiting, fraud, and forgery.
An ISIN identifier is used to number most forms of securities, including but not limited to equity shares, units, depositary receipts; debt instruments (including bonds, stripped coupons, and principal amounts), T-bills, rights, warrants; derivatives; commodities and currencies.
An ISIN identifier doesn’t include a specific trading venue. Another number set, usually, a Market Identifier Code (MIC) or three-letter exchange code, is needed to record location information that supplements primary identification codes.
Read the original article on Investopedia.