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Bid Ask and Mid

Separate executable sides from the midpoint used for analysis.

Reviewed 2026-08-10TheQuantBateman ResearchReading note
01Intuition

Begin with the executable market object.

Bid is where a buyer stands, ask is where a seller stands and mid is only their arithmetic centre. The spread is a cost and a liquidity signal.

ONE-LINE DEFINITION

Separate executable sides from the midpoint used for analysis.

02Mathematics

Make the quote arithmetic explicit.

m=12(bid+ask),spread=ask−bidm=\tfrac12(bid+ask), \quad spread=ask-bid
Notation and units

Decimal rates and volatilities, year-fraction time and continuous compounding unless stated otherwise.

03Assumptions

Record venue, timestamp, and convention.

01

The venue, timestamp, executable side and data status are part of every market observation.

02

Midpoints and derived probabilities are analytical coordinates, not guaranteed executable levels.

03

Licensing, freshness and resolution rules determine how the observation may be used.

“An unstated convention is a future reconciliation break.”— THEQUANTBATEMAN
04Market use

Distinguish observation from inference.

Quote validation, transaction-cost estimates, marking policy and model-versus-market comparisons.

Intuition→Mathematics→Implementation→Desk risk
05Desk view
FRONT OFFICE VIEW

Ask what can actually be traded or hedged.

Start from the executable side and timestamp. Derived Foundations signals are only as reliable as the market state and resolution convention beneath them.

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06Related

Inspect the connected market state.