How to Read Ticker Tape

Follow the Overall Market

1). Connect with financial media, such as Bloomberg and CNBC, through television programs or online portals. These news channels and sites stream the real-time ticker tape throughout the trading session.
2). Observe the stock ticker for its symbols and language. Ticker streams begin with a stock symbol and close with price information. Price data presents current stock quotes, alongside changes in value over the prior session. Volume is also included, which describes the amount of shares trading hands with each transaction.
3). Identify the major indexes that track your portfolio and nation on the ticker tape. In the United States, the Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500), Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and Nasdaq are the three major indexes. The S&P 500 and Dow are composed of large capitalization stocks, such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola. Meanwhile, Nasdaq relates to the technology economy---with eBay and Google as notable components.
4). Search for additional news headlines when the major indexes are showing large swings of 1 percent or more. These volatile readings may be the result of newly released unemployment reports or Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data.

1). Make a list of the stocks and mutual funds within your portfolio, alongside prospective investment opportunities. Include ticker symbols for each asset alongside your list.
2). Watch the ticker tape for price quotes related to your stocks of interest. The ticker displays information at random, as stock trades clear.
3). Investigate financial websites and news channels for more information related to a particular stock, when it advances or declines by at least 1 percent. Significant changes in value may arise due to released earnings data or new product launches.
4). Read the stock ticker for new investment ideas. The ticker streams data for numerous stocks, and helps you brainstorm for attractive profit opportunities.