Bid/Ask Tape

This instrument is used to visualize the volumes during each spread value.

How to open the Bid/Ask Tape

To open this module, use the Bid/Ask Tape quick access button.

The Instruments manager window will open:

In the following window, choose the instrument from the All Instruments tab, or from the Favorites tab. Adding instruments to Favorites is described in detail here: Instruments manager.

After that, the Bid/Ask Tape window will open.

1. Time — the time corresponding to the given spread.
2. Bid — the price at which the Bid was located.
3. Ask — the price at which the Ask was located.
4. Delta — cumulative delta for all the data in the counter.
5. Bid Trades Size — volume of trades on the Bid side (market sales).
6. Between Trades Size — volume of trades within the spread (between Bid and Ask).
7. Ask Trades Size — volume of trades on the Ask side (market purchases).
8. Linked window
9. Instruments manager
10. Freeze — freezes or unfreezes the tape movement.
11. Clone window
12. Layouts — workspace configurations.
13. Bid/Ask Tape Settings — opens general settings.
14. Topmost — displays the tape above all other windows.

*Function 14 is also available from the context menu. To open the menu — right-click on the tape.

Context menu

• Freeze — stop movement in the tape.
• Save to file — export data to a .CSV file.
• Settings — open general color settings.
• Clone window — create an identical window.
• Reset — reset the tape.

Color Settings

• Background — the background color.
• Buy color — the color for buys.
• Sell color — the color for sells.
• Between color — the color for trades inside the spread.
• Font size — font size for displayed data.

Example of how the Bid/Ask Tape works

1. A buy comes at the price of 100 with a volume of 1. Current Bid = 99, Ask = 100.
   Result: Bid 99, volume 0; Ask 100, volume 1.
2. Another buy comes at the price of 101 with a volume of 1. Current Bid = 100, Ask = 101.
   Result: Bid 100, volume 0; Ask 101, volume 1.
3. A sell comes at the price of 100 with a volume of 5.
   Result: Bid 100, volume 5; Ask 101, volume 1.

The previous data becomes: Bid 100, volume 5; Ask 101, volume 1.

Additional resources

• Getting acquainted with ATAS. Trading advantages, order management
• Spread Tape: All you need to know about trading with the help of Bid/Ask Tape