Trading glossaryReviewed 16 July 2026
Definition
The bid price is the highest displayed price at which a buyer is currently offering to purchase an instrument in a quoted market.
In market context
A seller seeking immediate execution generally interacts with available bids, subject to order routing and venue rules. The best displayed bid may represent only limited quantity, so a larger sale can fill across lower price levels. Market movement, latency, and competing orders can also remove the quote before execution, which is why a bid should be treated as current information rather than a guaranteed exit price.
Source
Use the primary source for fuller regulatory or market context.