This is a sample stock screen laid out like the FoudaLens stock page. The company and figures are invented. We will walk through parts 1 to 6 in order, the same order you will use on any stock.
1
Al Noor Development Co.
NOOR · Real estate
2
LiveStock status
3
10.20▲ +0.30 (+3.03%)
4
Best bid
10.18 × 15,000
Best ask
10.22 × 8,500
5
Volume1.2M
Turnover12.1M
Trades845
6
Open10.00
Previous close9.90
Day high10.35
Day low9.80
The six parts you will read on any stock.
1Name and ticker
Before any number, make sure you opened the right stock. Some companies have very similar names; the real difference is the ticker, a short Latin code that identifies each stock on the trading system.
Al Noor Development
NOORReal estate
Al Noor Industries
NORIIndustrials
Two similar names, two different tickers. The ticker decides.
2Stock status
Before trusting any figure as current, check the stock status. You may see one of these:
● LivePrices update as they happen. Only live-price subscribers see this badge.
SuspendedTrading is halted. No order executes until it resumes.
Data unavailableThe last price may be old. Do not decide on it.
The status tells you whether the figures can be relied on.
3Last price and change
The big number is the price of the latest trade. Next to it is the change versus the previous close, in EGP and in percent. Here: last 10.20, previous close 9.90, so up EGP 0.30, or 0.30 ÷ 9.90 = 3.03%.
When comparing two stocks, look at the percent, not the EGP amount:
Stock A10.00 → 10.50 · up 0.50 EGP+5%
Stock B100.00 → 100.50 · up 0.50 EGP+0.5%
The same EGP 0.50: 5% for one stock, only 0.5% for the other.
Watch outA few stocks trade in US dollars instead of EGP; a $ sign next to the price means dollars. On FoudaLens, some low-priced stocks may show three decimal places, depending on the tick size that applies to the stock.
4Best bid and best ask
The last price tells you what people agreed on a moment ago. To buy now you will usually pay the best ask; to sell now you will usually get the best bid. The next lesson covers this in detail.
5Activity: volume, turnover and trades
VolumeHow many shares changed hands today.
TurnoverThe total cash value of the trades executed today.
TradesHow many trades executed today.
Stock at 2 EGP
1,000,000 shares × 2
2M EGP
Stock at 50 EGP
1,000,000 shares × 50
50M EGP
The same million shares, 25 times the money.
6Session numbers: open, high and low
The regular Egyptian Exchange session runs 10:00 to 14:30, Sunday to Thursday. These numbers summarize it so far: the first traded price (open), and the highest and lowest prices traded today.
9.80Day low
Prev. close9.90
Last10.20
10.00Open
10.35Day high
The stock dipped to 9.80, reached 10.35, and now sits nearer the high.
Three common mistakes
MythIt is green, so buy.
RealityGreen only means the price is above the previous close.
MythThe last price is what I will pay.
RealityYou will usually pay the best ask available.
MythA EGP 2 share is cheaper than a EGP 100 one.
RealityThe share price alone does not say cheap or expensive. Look at the company's valuation.
Try it on a real stock
Open any stock on FoudaLens and follow the six steps in order. The first time takes minutes; after a few stocks, one minute.