The end of a trading session in financial markets. "Close" refers to market close, or the end of the day's trading. It can also refer to the process of exiting a trade. It also often refers to the final procedure in a financial transaction in which contract documents are signed and recorded.


The close of the New York Stock Exchange, which is marked by ringing a bell, is perhaps the most visible example of a market close.

Security prices at market close, or closing prices, are more important than intra-day prices for performance measurement. For example, the price performance of all securities on an equity index over the past year would be based on prices at today's close, compared with prices at close a year ago.

Since closing prices are widely followed and disseminated, they may occasionally be subject to manipulation by fraudsters, especially for micro-cap stocks with limited liquidity. This prohibited practice is called "high close."

  1. Opening Cross

    A method used by the Nasdaq to determine the opening price for ...
  2. Open

    1. An unexecuted order that is still valid. An open order is ...
  3. At-The-Close Order

    An order specifying that a trade is to be executed at the close ...
  4. Closing Bell

    A bell that rings to signify the end of a trading session. The ...
  5. After The Bell

    A phrase used to describe news, earnings reports and other activities ...
  6. High Close

    A tactic used by stock manipulators; they make small trades at ...
  1. How do I calculate the adjusted closing price for a stock?

    When trading is done for the day on a recognized exchange, all stocks are priced at close. The price that is quoted at the ... Read Full Answer >>
  2. Why don't stocks begin trading at the previous day's closing price?

    Most stock exchanges work according to the forces of supply and demand, which determine the prices at which stocks are bought ... Read Full Answer >>

  4. How can I calculate funds from operation in Excel?

  5. Is it better practice to use a stop order or a limit order?

  6. How do day traders capture profits from the difference between bid and ask prices?

Related Articles
  1. Options & Futures

    Getting To Know The Stock Exchanges

  2. Personal Finance

    To Rent Or Buy? There's More To It Than Money

  3. Home & Auto

    To Rent Or Buy? The Financial Issues

  4. Options & Futures

    Maximize Profits With Volatility Stops

    Find out which type of volatility stop fits your trading objectives.
  5. Options & Futures

    Employee Stock Options (ESO)

  6. Economics

    What Does Business-to-Business Mean?

  7. Economics

    What are Barriers to Entry?

  8. Chart Advisor

    Four Great Stocks for Day Traders

    Four day trading stocks that offer volume and a consistent history of big intraday price movements.
  9. Trading Strategies

    IPO Flippers And The Companies Who Hate Them

    Learn how flipping activity affects an initial public offering.
  10. Economics

    Understanding Management by Objectives


You May Also Like

Hot Definitions
  1. Bogey

  2. Xetra

  3. Nuncupative Will

  4. OsMA

  5. Investopedia

  6. Unfair Claims Practice

Trading Center

You are using adblocking software

so you'll never miss a feature!