human
I've always been a little confused about how the stock market works. Can you explain it to me?
assistant
The stock market is where buyers and sellers of securities, such as stocks and bonds, come together to trade. When a buyer wants to buy a security from a seller, they must agree on a price for that security. This price is called the "bid" or "ask" price. If the buyer agrees to pay this price, then the transaction is completed. If the buyer does not agree to pay this price, then the transaction is not completed. The difference between the bid and ask prices is referred to as the "spread".