How markets work
Contract note
Also called Trade confirmation
The document a broker issues after a trade, recording exactly what was bought or sold and at what price.
How it works
A contract note states the security, quantity, price, date, commission, taxes and total consideration. It is the primary record of the transaction and the document tax authorities expect you to keep.
It is also the cleanest input for portfolio tracking, because it carries the fields — quantity, price, date, fees — that a cost basis actually needs.
Related terms
- Cost basisWhat you actually paid for a holding, including fees — the number every gain or loss is measured from.
- SettlementThe process of actually exchanging cash for securities after a trade is agreed.
- ISINA twelve-character global code that identifies one security uniquely, anywhere in the world.
- BrokerThe firm that holds your account and sends your orders to the market on your behalf.
More in How markets work
All 33 How markets work terms · The full glossary, 433 terms
Educational reference only. Nothing here is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything, and tax treatment depends on your own circumstances and the country you are in.