What is a lot?
A lot is the standardised number of units of an asset being traded. Often, the actual value of an asset or security means that trading just a single unit isn’t viable. In these cases, traders will use a lot: a set amount of a particular asset that you buy or sell in each transaction. If the position size is not the standardised lot amount, it is considered an ‘odd lot’.
The value of a lot is set by an exchange, or a similar market regulator, and is usually the minimum number of units that you can buy of a particular financial instrument. This regulation means that investors always know how much of an asset they are trading when they open a position.
