Support

Support

An effective lower bound on prices supported because of many willing buyers at that price level.

Support

In technical analysis, a price that a security does not or only rarely falls below. Technical analysts identify a support level by looking at past performance. It is seen as an indication to buy the security, which will increase the demand, causing the security's price to move above the support level. The demand comes from investors who fail to buy the security at the support price, and resolve to do so if it reaches that price again. If buyers are not forthcoming, however, the security falls below the support level. When this occurs, the price of the security will likely continue to drop until it finds another support level. See also: Price floor, Resistance (Resistance level).

support

Increased demand for a security. Compare resistance.

Support.

Support, or support level, is the bottom of a stock's current trading range, or the point at which the price is low enough to stimulate demand among investors. Strong buying at the support level moves the stock's price up from its low.

For example, if every time stock A's price drops to $40 investors begin to buy, then $40 is considered its support. But a trading range isn't fixed, so the support level tends to move higher or lower over time in response to changing market conditions and investor attitudes.

If stock A falls to $38 without a surge of buying, the current support line has been breached. This may be the result of a falling market or a bearish assessment of the stock's value. On the other hand, if demand increases at $43, that may become the new support level.

Conversely, the level at which supply exceeds demand and investors typically sell a certain stock is called resistance. It's the point that's considered the top of a stock's current trading range.

Technical analysts use the concepts of support and resistance in anticipating future stock prices.

Support

The total amount provided on behalf of an individual. Support includes food, lodging, and other necessities as well as recreation and other nonessential expenditures. Support is not limited to necessities and can be as lavish as the taxpayer can afford. The amount of support in determining whether an individual qualifies as a dependent.