# Information Barrier

*Professional & Ethics — Finicade finance glossary*

An information barrier separates parts of a firm that must not share information — typically deal advisers from the traders in the same stock.

An information barrier separates parts of a firm that must not share information — typically the advisory side that knows about an unannounced deal from the trading side that must not. It's what allows a bank to advise on a merger and make markets in the same stock without illegality. Staff can be brought over the wall deliberately and are then restricted from trading, with the crossing formally logged by compliance.

**Also known as:** Chinese wall, ethical wall, wall crossing

**Related terms:** [Insider Trading](https://finicade.com/glossary/insider-trading), [Conflict of Interest](https://finicade.com/glossary/conflict-of-interest), [Material Nonpublic Information](https://finicade.com/glossary/material-nonpublic-information), [Compliance](https://finicade.com/glossary/compliance), [Front Running](https://finicade.com/glossary/front-running)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/information-barrier