How do you read stock prices?

Answer 1

Stock prices are largely driven by investors expectations of its future earnings.

So if prices go up, you could simply say that its because more investors are positive about the relevant companys' earnings.

Please note that the stock marketis highly complex, and there is no "one way" of reading the price.

For the layman, I would simply say that its an issue of supply and demand. If there are more buyers than sellers, then prices go up. Vice versa.

/BL