How to read a stock quote: bid, ask, spread and volume
A stock quote packs a lot into one line. Here is what the bid, ask, spread, volume, day range, market cap and P/E ratio actually tell you.
Markets and investing, explained in plain English
Short, sourced guides to how US stock markets work, so you can read financial news with more confidence. No tips, no predictions.
Market basics & news
Market basics
How to read a stock quote: bid, ask, spread and volume
A stock quote packs a lot into one line. Here is what the bid, ask, spread, volume, day range, market cap and P/E ratio actually tell you.
Market basics
Premarket and after-hours trading: how extended sessions work
Stocks can trade before the opening bell and after the close. What extended-hours trading is, when it happens, and why prices can behave differently.
News & data
Where market-moving news comes from: filings, earnings and the economic calendar
Most market news starts from a small set of public sources. How SEC filings, earnings releases and scheduled economic data reach investors.
Investing 101
Investing 101
Diversification and asset allocation, explained
Two ideas sit at the core of most long-term investing plans: how you split money between asset types, and how you spread risk within each one.
Investing 101
Dividend dates explained: declaration, ex-dividend, record and payment
To receive a dividend you need to own the stock at the right time. The four dates that decide who gets paid, and how dividend yield is calculated.
Investing 101
What “blue-chip stock” means, and what it doesn’t
The term is used everywhere but has no official definition. Where it comes from, how it is commonly used, and why it does not mean “safe”.
The US economic calendar
Recurring government releases that often move markets. Exact dates are set by each agency; check the official calendars before relying on a date.
| Release | Source | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs report | BLS | Monthly · usually Friday, 8:30 a.m. ET |
| Consumer Price Index | BLS | Monthly · 8:30 a.m. ET |
| Jobless claims | Dept. of Labor | Weekly · usually Thursday, 8:30 a.m. ET |
| GDP | BEA | Quarterly, then revised |
| FOMC rate decision | Federal Reserve | Eight scheduled meetings a year |
Official calendars: BLS · BEA · Federal Reserve. How to read market news →
Quick glossary
- Bid / ask
- The best price buyers will pay (bid) and the lowest price sellers will accept (ask) at a given moment.
- Spread
- The gap between the bid and the ask. Wider spreads mean higher trading costs.
- Market cap
- Share price multiplied by shares outstanding: the market value of the whole company.
- P/E ratio
- Share price divided by earnings per share. Not meaningful for companies without profits.
- Ex-dividend date
- Buy on or after this date and you will not receive the next dividend.
- Form 8-K
- An SEC filing that reports a major company event, generally within four business days.
- FOMC
- The Federal Reserve committee that sets the target range for the federal funds rate.
- Limit order
- An order to buy or sell only at a set price or better. It may not be filled.
Who we are
livetrandus is published by Accretive Capital LLC, a media company based in Detroit, Michigan. We explain market terms and investing concepts using public, official sources such as the SEC, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve, and we link to them in every article. We do not sell investment products and do not give personal investment advice.
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