Bid-Ask Spread

What Does It Mean?
What Does Bid-Ask Spread Mean?
The amount by which the ask price exceeds the bid. This is essentially the difference in price between the highest price that a buyer is willing to pay for an asset and the lowest price for which a seller is willing to sell it.
Investopedia Says
Investopedia explains Bid-Ask Spread
For example, if the bid price is $20 and the ask price is $21 then the "bid-ask spread" is $1.

The size of the spread from one asset to another will differ mainly because of the difference in liquidity of each asset. For example, currency is considered the most liquid asset in the world and the bid-ask spread in the currency market is one of the smallest (one-hundredth of a percent). On the other hand, less liquid assets such as a small-cap stock may have spreads that are equivalent to a percent or two of the asset's value.
Related Links
Rate this Term: Your Rating:    Overall Rating: Vote Now!
Sponsored Links
MARKETPLACE
The Investopedia Guide to Wall Speak
TRADING CENTER
CURRENT HIGH YIELD SAVINGS RATES
Type
Overnight avgs
Rate data provided by
Bankrate.com
add investopedia foot
www.investopedia.com