WickCheck / Trading school / Bid and ask
Bid and askBeginner
The bid is the price you can sell at, the ask the price you can buy at. The gap between them is the spread.
What it means
Long trades open at the ask and close at the bid; shorts do the opposite. Charts usually show the bid, so a buy stop can fill before the chart seems to touch the level, especially when spreads widen.
How to spot it
- Look at both prices in the order panel before entering.
Common mistakes
- Wondering why a stop hit when the bid chart never reached it: the ask did.
Related terms
Spread, commission and slippageThe costs paid on every trade: the bid–ask spread, broker commission, and the di…Stop lossThe price where a losing trade is closed to cap the loss at a planned amount.…Market orderAn order filled straight away at the best available price.…
Why most strategies need a human behind the screen
Read the lessonWhat a mechanical test can and cannot tell you about smart money concepts.
Education only, not financial advice. Definitions vary between teachers; these are ours, written for clarity.