| The stock market ticker tape is, now, a | | | | will see streaming stock market ticker symbols going |
| computerized unit that relays information about a | | | | across the bottom of the TV screen. These can be |
| stock's trading activity to investors around the world. | | | | tricky to understand unless you know what they are |
| The stock market ticker tape's information includes | | | | all about; how to read the symbolic language. |
| the stocks' symbol on the exchanges, the latest price | | | | Investopedia comments, "Stock symbols are the |
| per share, and its trading volume. Before | | | | most recognized type of ticker symbol. Stocks listed |
| computerized methods, stock market ticker symbols | | | | and traded on U.S. exchanges such as the NYSE have |
| were printed out on a thin piece of paper that | | | | symbols with up to three letters. Nasdaq-listed stocks |
| continuously streamed out of a ticker-tape machine. | | | | have four-letter symbols. Ticker symbols for options |
| The stock ticker-tape machine was invented in 1867 | | | | are structured to represent the underlying stock |
| in the aftermath of the development of the | | | | ticker they are based on and also their expiration |
| telegraph machine. In those days, "pad shovers" | | | | date and contract type (either a put or a call option). |
| were employed to feed the tape to brokers in their | | | | Mutual fund ticker symbols are usually alphanumeric |
| offices; brokers would set up offices as near as | | | | and end with the letter X to differentiate them from |
| possible to the New York Stock Exchange, etc, so | | | | stock symbols." |
| that they could get the feeds via wire as quickly as | | | | "Ticker" comes from the conceptual word of "tick", |
| possible. With globalization and computers this sort of | | | | which is any activity of a stock whether it be up or |
| setup is clearly no longer needed. | | | | down. A stock market ticker symbol readout will |
| Stock market ticker symbols are the letters (once in | | | | include, in order from left to right: the unique call |
| a while also numbers) used to denote a particular | | | | letters of a specific security; the volume or number |
| security that is being traded publicly and/or on stock | | | | of shares traded (K = 1,000, M = 1,000,000 and B = |
| exchanges. This symbol is chosen by the company | | | | 1,000,000,000); the last bid price for that stock, |
| when it begins issuing shares for public trading, and | | | | which is considered its price until there is a new bid; |
| it's what is used to track stock activity and place buy | | | | an up- or down- arrow that indicates if the stock's |
| or sell orders by investors. These brief symbols are | | | | price is down or up from where it started the trading |
| necessary to streamline the vast amount of activity | | | | day; and the change amount, or the difference in |
| information that flows through stock exchanges on | | | | price from the previous trading day's closing price. |
| every business day. Without the stock market ticker | | | | Once you know what you are looking at and looking |
| symbols, confusion and turpitude would reign in the | | | | for, the stock market ticker symbols become easy |
| stock market. | | | | to read and bring you a wealth of information you |
| People who tune into TV shows like MSNBC Business | | | | need if you are going to successfully trade in stocks. |