Thin Market

Filed Under » ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Thin Market'

A market with a low number of buyers and sellers. Since few transactions take place in a thin market, prices are often more volatile and assets are less liquid. The low number of bids and asks will also typically result in a larger spread between the two quotes.

Also known as a "narrow market".
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Thin Market'

A thin market has high price volatility and low liquidity. If supply or demand changes abruptly, resulting in more buyers than sellers or vice versa, there will typically be a material impact on prices. Since few bids and asks are quoted, potential buyers and sellers may find it difficult to transact in a thin market.

Related Definitions

  • Buyers/Sellers On Balance

    1. A ratio based on aggregate market orders for securities that tells whether there are more buyers or sellers in the current market. This ratio is usually provided just before the ...
    Read More »
  • Liquid Market

    A market with many bid and ask offers. The market is characterized by high liquidity, low spreads, and low volatility.
    Read More »
  • Liquidity

    1. The degree to which an asset or security can be bought or sold in the market without affecting the asset's price. Liquidity is characterized by a high level of trading activity. ...
    Read More »
    • Spread

      1. The difference between the bid and the ask price of a security or asset. 2. An options position established by purchasing one option and selling another option of the same class but ...
      Read More »
    • Volatility

      1. A statistical measure of the dispersion of returns for a given security or market index. Volatility can either be measured by using the standard deviation or variance between returns ...
      Read More »
    • Deep Market

      A securities exchange, or place of commerce, where a large number of shares can be bought and sold without drastically affecting the price. A market might also refer to the buyers and ...
      Read More »
    • Imperfect Market

      A market where information is not quickly disclosed to all participants in it and where the matching of buyers and sellers isn't immediate. Generally speaking, it is any market that does ...
      Read More »
    • Exotic Currency

      A foreign exchange term for a thinly traded currency. Exotic currencies are illiquid, lack market depth and trade at low volumes. Trading an exotic currency can be expensive, as the ...
      Read More »
    • Slow Market

      1. A market that currently exhibits low trading volumes and/or low volatility levels. The term slow market can be used to describe a market with few issues coming up for sale to ...
      Read More »
    • Order Imbalance

      A situation resulting from an excess of buy or sell orders for a specific security on a trading exchange, making it impossible to match the buyers' and sellers' orders. For securities ...
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links