hot money

1. General: Alternative term for discretionary income.

2. International finance: Extremely volatile short-term capital that moves on a short notice to any country providing better returns. Powerful speculators can quickly pump massive sums into a high-yield economy, giving it an artificial aura of success and propriety. But, on a mere suspicion of a downturn or other negative factor, they can (and do) withdraw it almost overnight causing a near collapse of the country's financial structure.

3. Local finance: Money obtained through illegal means such as drug trafficking. Also called dirty money.