17.4.1. Format of Quotations
Bids and offers on equity securities in all the secondary markets are priced at the penny level, as long as the stock price is above $1. Stocks that trade below $1 can be traded at increments of $0.0001 or more. In other words, sub-penny pricing is only allowed for stocks that trade at less than $1 per share.
Recall that bids and offers on corporate bonds are typically quoted in eighths of bond points. Municipal bonds are also quoted in eighths of a bond point. Treasury bonds and notes are quoted in 32nds, while Treasury bills are quoted on a yield which is a discount to par.
SUMMARY TABLE |
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Security |
Quoted In |
Example Bid-Ask |
Stocks |
Dollars and cents |
35.23 – 35.30 |
Corporate bonds |
Bond points (in eighths) or yield (in basis points) Yield may be the number of basis points above a Treasury bond |
89 1/4 – 89 3/4 $892.50 – $897.50) +275 would mean 2.75% higher than the yield of a comparable Treasury bond |
Treasury bonds and notes |
Bond points (in 32nds) |
89.16 – 89.24 ($895 – $897.50) |
Treasury bills |