The screen showed two numbers: the and the Ask . The Bid was what buyers wanted to pay; the Ask was what the seller demanded. Leo realized buying a stock was just a global, high-speed negotiation. He had two choices for his order: Market Order: Buy it right now at whatever the price is.
Leo chose a Limit Order. He wasn’t in a rush. He typed in the number of shares—just five to start—and hit the trade button. A small notification chirped. The "Order Pending" status sat there for a heartbeat, then vanished. "Order Executed." how you buy stock
The morning fog still clung to the windows when Leo finally sat down with his coffee. For months, he had watched the same green and red lines flicker on the news, feeling like a kid pressing his nose against the glass of a shop he wasn't allowed to enter. Today, he decided to walk through the door. The screen showed two numbers: the and the Ask