What is Ask?
The price sellers are asking for. When you buy, you trade at the Ask.
Animation · Ask
Learn “Ask” in an animated lesson
- Arbitrage StrategiesTriangular Arbitrage
Three currencies (dollar, euro, yen) and three exchange rates. If the third rate doesn't line up with the other two, going once around the triangle leaves you with extra money.
- Forex BasicsBuy / Sell and the Spread
Why are you down the moment you open a trade? Watch Buy fill at the Ask and Sell fill at the Bid in real time, and see the spread widen at different times of day.
- Options BasicsReading an Option Chain
That big T-shaped table in your trading app: strikes in the middle, calls on the left, puts on the right, each cell with a bid and an ask. Learn to pick out the contract you want.
- Stock Trading: Next StepsLimit Orders
Fill only at my price or better. A limit order joins the order book queue and waits for someone to trade with.
- Stock Trading: Next StepsMarket Orders
No price preference, fill it now. Submit a market order yourself and watch it "eat" through the asks level by level.
- Stock Trading: Next StepsReading the Order Book
Everyone's buy and sell orders sit in a single table. Follow the guided tour and read it line by line.
Related terms
See how “Ask” works for yourself with an animation you can drag and play.
Go to “Triangular Arbitrage”