"Ask" Price

In the over-the-counter market, the term "ask" refers to the lowest price at which a market maker will sell a specified number of shares of a stock at any given time. �The term "bid" refers to the highest price a market maker will pay to purchase the stock.

The ask price, also known as the "offer" price, will almost always be higher than the bid price. �Market makers make money on the difference between the bid price and the ask price. �That difference is called the "spread."