Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam Practice Test 2025 - Complete Prep Guide

Thinly traded securities are characterized by low trading volumes and limited market participation, which can lead to high price volatility. When there are fewer participants in the market, even relatively small buying or selling activity can significantly impact the price of the security. This is because when a trade takes place in a thinly traded market, there are often not enough sellers or buyers to absorb the order without moving the price substantially.

In contrast, more actively traded securities tend to have sufficient buying and selling activity to cushion price fluctuations, resulting in greater price stability. Therefore, the inherent lack of liquidity in thinly traded securities usually leads to larger price swings compared to securities that are frequently traded. This makes investors more susceptible to experiencing rapid changes in the market price, as the supply and demand dynamics are less stable and balanced.

Understanding this aspect is crucial for investors, as entering or exiting positions in thinly traded securities can involve greater risk due to these pronounced price movements.