what is a bid and ask price
If you're investing in individual securities, particularly less-liquid ones, it pays to be aware of bid-ask spreads when you're buying and selling. The bid is the price that someone is willing to pay for a security at a specific point in time, whereas the ask is the price at which someone is willing to sell. The difference between the two prices is called the bid-ask spread. Bid-ask spreads have the characteristic of heads they win, tales you lose: If you're a seller, you receive the lower price (the bid), and if you're a buyer, you pay the higher price (the ask).