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How to read a stock quote
Learn last price, bid, ask, spread, range, volume, timestamp, and market state.
Last traded price
The last price records a completed trade. It is useful context, but it is not a promise that your next order can trade at that value.
Bid, ask, and spread
The bid is the best displayed buying price and the ask is the best displayed selling price. The spread is the difference between them.
Example
If the best bid is Rs 99 and the best ask is Rs 101, the displayed spread is Rs 2.
Range, volume, and time
The session range shows observed highs and lows. Volume shows how much traded. Always check the quote timestamp and market state before treating any value as current.
Three things to keep.
- 01Last price is historical
- 02Bid and ask show current displayed interest
- 03A quote needs a timestamp
If the last trade was Rs 100, must a market buy fill at Rs 100?
Show the answer +
No. It trades against available sell orders and the price can differ, especially when liquidity is limited or the market moves.