Quote Timestamp Checklist
A quote timestamp checklist for deciding whether market data is fresh enough.
A timestamp turns a quote into reviewable evidence. Use this checklist before trusting stock quotes, option chains, spreads, market status, or dashboard scores in a research note.
Quick Answer
A quote timestamp shows when the price, spread, chain, or market data was captured. It helps separate current evidence from historical context.
For stock and options research, the timestamp should be reviewed with market status, source state, and the question: would a refresh change the conclusion?
The Quote Timestamp Checklist
Capture time
Record the time the quote, chain, chart, or score was captured.
Session state
Confirm whether the market was open, closed, halted, premarket, or after-hours.
Source state
Label the source as live, delayed, cached, fallback, stale, or unavailable.
Sensitivity
Ask whether a new quote would change the thesis, spread review, or paper entry.
Refresh action
Refresh before recording a time-sensitive conclusion.
Review trail
Save the timestamp with the research note so the outcome can be judged fairly.
When A Timestamp Matters Most
Timestamps matter most when the decision depends on fast-changing values: bid, ask, spread, market status, news timing, breakout levels, or an option chain after a catalyst.
They matter less for stable educational context, but even there, a visible timestamp helps readers understand what evidence was available when the note was written.
Common questions
Why do quote timestamps matter?+
They show whether the data behind a research note is current enough to trust, especially when prices, spreads, and catalysts are moving quickly.
What should I record with a quote timestamp?+
Record capture time, market status, source state, bid, ask, spread, volume when relevant, and whether the data was refreshed before the conclusion.
Can an old quote still be useful?+
Yes, as historical context. It should not be treated as a live read if a refreshed quote could change the conclusion.
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