Then the government encouraged the bank to sell equity to local citizens.

"The sophisticated investor understood we'd either have to stay in place or sell equity," he said.

Europe is looking barren for American companies that are seeking to sell debt or equity.

As an example, a company may sell equity and receive the value in cash, thus increasing liquidity.

The managers can sell equities short, making bets that the market will decline.

Investors, who have been nervous about the market for months, had many reasons to sell equities before the trading session even began.

It will invest in - or sell short - only publicly traded equities.

He could sell equity, however, a move that might mean he would reduce his control of Viacom.

But it will not easily be able to sell new equity without hurting existing shareholders, because its stock price is depressed.

To pay for the deal, Enterprise said it would borrow and also raise about £295 million by selling fresh equity to existing investors.