How do I interpret the bid and ask sizes?

@jamir 

The bid and ask sizes are commonly used in financial markets to show the number of shares or contracts available at a particular bid or ask price. Here's how to interpret them:

1. Bid Size: The bid size indicates the total number of shares or contracts that buyers are willing to purchase at a specific bid price. It represents the demand or interest to buy at that price. For example, if the bid size for a stock is 500, it means that there are potential buyers looking to purchase 500 shares at the specified bid price.
2. Ask Size: The ask size indicates the total number of shares or contracts that sellers are offering to sell at a given ask price. It represents the supply or availability of stock or contracts at that price level. For instance, if the ask size for an option contract is 200, it means that there are sellers willing to sell 200 contracts at the specified ask price.

By comparing the bid and ask sizes, you can gauge the depth of the market for a particular security. Larger bid and ask sizes generally suggest a higher level of liquidity, indicating that there are potentially more buyers and sellers active in the market. Conversely, smaller bid and ask sizes may imply lower liquidity and could lead to wider bid-ask spreads, making it harder to buy or sell at desired prices.

Remember that bid and ask sizes can change frequently as market participants enter or exit trades. Therefore, it is important to consider current market conditions and other factors while interpreting bid and ask sizes.