The quote, also referred to as the price quotation, is the indicative cost upon which the buyer and seller agree for a financial instrument. When trading forex and CFDs, there are two quotes – Buy (Ask) and Sell (Bid).
The Bid/Sell quote is the highest price that the broker is willing to sell an asset or security to the trader (or the trader to the broker), and the Buy/Ask quote is the lowest price that the trader is willing to buy it from the broker (or the broker from the trader). The Buy/Ask quote is higher than the Bid/Sell quote, and the difference between them is known as the spread.
The quote, or price quotation is one of the foundations of a forex and CFD trader’s decisions as to when to open or close his positions. Because of the spread, traders understand that when opening a long position (buying) on an asset, the price must go up simply in order for them to break even. Alternately, opening a short (sell) position, means that before the trader breaks even, or – ideally – sees a profit, the asset price must drop to a certain level. As a result, knowing both the Bid and the Ask prices of an asset are a key part to investing wisely.
Links related to quote/price quotation
Ask
Bid
Buy
CFD
Close a position
Open a position
Sell