Spread refers to the difference between the bid and ask quotes for a financial asset. This represents the difference between what a market maker is willing to pay and to accept to buy or sell a given asset. The wider the spread, the more profit the market maker expects to make per unit sold – a clear sign of lower liquidity. When liquidity is reduced, market makers expect to make more profit to cover the cost and risk of buying and selling the securities.
Spread is important to traders for a number of reasons. Firstly, it shows how much it will cost to make a trade. You will need your profit to exceed the spread before any eventual sale of your securities can be profitable. Secondly, spread is a useful guide for overall liquidity. If spreads suddenly widen, then the market may be entering a period of increased volatility and reduced liquidity.
Additionally, arbitrage opportunities exist when two market makers offer different prices, with the bid price of one below the ask price of another. These opportunities are rare in major markets, but allow for a risk-free profit when they do occur.
ADSS offers a range of global markets for traders, with opportunities in indices, commodities, forex, equities and more. We also feature tutorials, how-to guides, and weekly webinars to help you navigate the financial markets and find better trading opportunities. You can start trading and investing online by opening a live trading or demo trading account.