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Reading Quote Data (Bid, Ask, etc.)

Wherever you see contract pricing on the MetroTrade platform, whether in the watchlist, chart header, or order panel, you'll see the same core set of data points. This article explains what each one means.

Bid and Ask

  • Bid: The highest price a buyer is currently willing to pay for the contract. If you're selling, this is generally the price you'd receive.
  • Ask: The lowest price a seller is currently willing to accept for the contract. If you're buying, this is generally the price you'd pay.

Spread

The spread is the difference between the bid and ask price. A narrower spread generally means a more liquid market, since buyers and sellers are closer in price. A wider spread can mean lower liquidity, or increased volatility.

On the platform, this is shown as SPR next to the bid and ask prices.

Last

The most recent price the contract actually traded at. This can sit at, above, or below the current bid and ask, depending on how the market has moved since that trade.

Chg% (Change)

The percentage change in price. A positive number, usually shown in green, means the price is up. A negative number, usually shown in red, means the price is down. 

Volume

The number of contracts traded over a given period. Higher volume generally means more market participation, which can support the reliability of a price move. 

OHLC

Short for Open, High, Low, and Close: the four key prices for a given period, such as a single candle on a chart.

  • Open: The price at the start of the period.
  • High: The highest price reached during the period.
  • Low: The lowest price reached during the period.
  • Close: The price at the end of the period, or the most recent price if the period hasn't closed yet.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute trading advice. Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every investor.