stock market question

[prowannabie]

can someone please tell me, when u want to buy a stock do you go by the "bid" or "ask" price. Same question for when you want to sell something

[James282]

bid is what people will pay for your stock, ask is the price they want you to pay for the stock.
-James

[RedJoker]

When you want to buy you take the higher price, the ask. When you want to sell take the lower price, the bid.

[Evan]

[ QUOTE ]
bid is what people will pay for your stock, ask is the price they want you to pay for the stock.
-James

[/ QUOTE ]
I taught this guy everything he knows.

[kvkwn]

you buy the stock at the "ask price, which is the higher price shown on the screen.

you sell the stock at the "bid" price which is the lower price shown on the screen.

[pig4bill]

I could repeat the same answer for a fourth time, but instead I'll just tell you that you can put in a limit order at whatever price you want. You are less likely to get filled than taking the offer or hitting the bid though. The only guaranteed fill is a market order.