How to Read Stock Market Quotes
By Kathy Burns-Millyard
http://www.useful-stock-market.info/35/stock-market-quotes-101/
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The stock market quote is the basic collection of numbers an investor
must understand to achieve success in the stock market. It is a
list of prices for certain stocks at one point within the trading
day. In the past, stocks were quoted in fractions, but now, most
exchanges use decimals. Stock market quotes are found in newspapers,
as well as online. Stock quotes are updated regularly during the
trading day.
What are the numbers and columns in the stock quotes mean? Though
most are easily understandable, some may be confusing for a stock
market newbie. Here is a review of the common numbers in the stock
quotes and what they mean.
Newspaper Stock Market Quotes. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) format
is easiest to follow.
Listed below are the columns and a brief explanation for each column.
- YTD % CHG – The Year-To-Date Percentage
Change. This represents the stock price percentage change
for the year. This percentage is adjusted for stock splits and dividends
over 10%.
- 52-Week HI & LO – The two numbers in the
column record both the highest and the lowest price the stock is
traded for within the last 52-weeks. Previous trading day not included.
- Stock (SYM) – This is where the stock name and
symbols are listed. Stock names are usually abbreviated. The stock
symbol is printed in boldface. Some newspapers don’t print them
at all.
- DIV – This stands for Dividend reflecting the
annual distribution rate based on the last regular disbursement
for a stock.
- Yield % – The yield percentages are the other
disbursements paid to stockholders as a percentage of the stock’s
price.
- PE – The Price to Earnings Ratio is the per-share
earnings over the closing price.
- VOL 100s – This means sales volume expressed
with two missing zeros.
- CLOSE – The last price the stock traded for
a certain day. But it doesn’t mean that this will be the price the
stock opens at the next trading day.
- NET CHANGE – This is the amount at which the
stock closed today against yesterday.
- Footnotes – These notations point out any extraordinary
circumstances within the listing such as new highs and lows, unusual
dividends, first day of trading, etc.
Online Stock Market Quotes. Online stock resources
cover the same information as the newspaper stock quotes. However,
the difference is mainly with regards to getting the “live” information.
Compared to reading yesterdays stock quotes on the paper the next
morning, the information presented on online resources are updated
constantly within the course of the trading day.
Indeed, stock market quotes offer a wealth of information when
it comes to wise stock investment. as long as one understands what
the numbers mean.
Additional resources and updates for this article can be found
online at:
http://www.useful-stock-market.info/35/stock-market-quotes-101/
© 2005. This article is provided courtesy of The Useful Stock Market Info Website.
A beginners source for useful stock market and investing information.
Published - November 2005
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