build a book

Build a book

In the context of general equities, develop customer orders to gather demand/supply in order to make a bid or an offer. Also refers to a commissioned salesperson amassing a 'book' of regular clients.

Book Building

The process of canvassing potential investors for interest in a new issue of a security, especially before the SEC has approved the issue. Building a book allows a syndicate to have a rough idea of the demand for the new issue, which may affect its price when it is actually issued. See also: Overbooked, Underbooked, Fully booked.

build a book

See book building.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott. Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.