Orders set the price
No one decides the price of a share. It comes from the orders of buyers and sellers. When more people want to buy than sell, the price tends to rise. When more want to sell than buy, it tends to fall.
Stock Market Basics · Lesson 4 of 10
Prices, supply and demand
What moves a share price, and how to read a price board without being misled.
5 minutes · 8 questionsLesson 4 · Card 1 of 5
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Orders set the price
No one decides the price of a share. It comes from the orders of buyers and sellers. When more people want to buy than sell, the price tends to rise. When more want to sell than buy, it tends to fall.
Why prices move
News about a company's profit, changes in interest rates, the state of the economy and the mood of investors can all move a price. In a market with few trades, even a small number of orders can move it a lot.
Reading a price board
Each row shows a ticker symbol that identifies the company, a price, a change, and sometimes volume, which is how many shares changed hands. A dash means no value is available from the source. Never fill in a number yourself.
The tickers on the ESX
As of October 2026 the listed companies use these symbols: SIDAX Sidama Bank, BOAX Bank of Abyssinia, ABAYB Abay Bank, TELE Ethio Telecom, AWAB Awash Bank, GDAB Gadaa Bank and WGBX Wegagen Bank.
The last price is not your price
The last trade may be old or small. The bid and the ask show what is possible right now. Always check the date and source next to a price.