Gap

What does it Mean? A break between prices on a chart that occurs when the price of a stock makes a sharp move up or down with no trading occurring in between. Gaps can be created by factors such as regular buying or selling pressure, earnings announcements, a change in an analyst's outlook or any other type of news release. 

Investopedia Says... An example of two different gaps can be seen in the chart above. Notice how the stock closes the trading session before the first gap at $50 and opens the next trading day near $46 with no trading occurring between the two prices. Gaps are a regular occurrence in all financial markets. However, they are rarely seen in the forex market since it is highly liquid and trades 24 hours a day.

Terms Related Links

Breakaway Gap
Common Gap
Exhaustion Gap
Forex - FX
Island Reversal
Runaway Gap
Stock

Terms Related Links
Playing The Gap - See how you can profit from these disruptions in normal price patterns.

Analyzing Chart Patterns: Gaps - Take a leap of faith and follow your stocks with gap patterns.

The Ups And Downs Of Biotechnology - This volatile sector can provide huges gains, but there's also lots of downside.

Advanced Candlestick Patterns - Go beyond the basics! Learn to identify and trade island reversals, kicker patterns and more.

Gauging Support And Resistance With Price By Volume - This straightforward histogram can help you analyze the buying and selling interest in a stock.

Reducing Risk With Options - If you want to use leverage to your advantage, you must know how many contracts to buy.

Does a stock split lead to the gapping up/down of the stock?

Do stop or limit orders protect against gaps in a stock's price?

Free Trading Software - Nearly 80% Accurate* Market Forecasting Software. Get FREE predictions and see for yourself!

Five Chart Patterns You Need to Know - Learn to maximize profits in up and down markets with this free report from ChartAdvisor.com!





add investopedia foot
www.investopedia.com