On CommSec, an indicative price is basically a best-guess estimate of where a stock might open or close during auction periods—think of it as a preview, not the final price.
What’s Happening
During ASX auction phases, CommSec shows an indicative price so traders can see roughly where buy and sell orders might balance out, based on the live order book.
It’s like a live snapshot of supply and demand. The number updates constantly while the auction is active, but don’t treat it as set in stone—it can shift right up until the final price locks in. As of 2026, CommSec still offers this during pre-open (8:55–9:00 AM AEST), closing (4:10–4:12 PM AEST), and volatility auctions to give retail traders a clearer picture CommSec Support Home.
Step-by-Step Solution
Here’s exactly how to view and use the indicative price without getting tripped up during auctions.
- Find the indicative price Fire up the CommSec app or website, go to Quotes → ASX → [Stock]. When an auction’s about to run, you’ll see a banner saying “Indicative Price: $X.XX.” That number comes straight from the current order book—it’s not your trade price, just a moving target.
- Understand how auctions actually work Market orders won’t fill at the indicative price—they only execute at the official auction price when it locks in at 9:00 AM or 4:12 PM AEST. Limit orders? They’ll only fill if the final auction price hits or beats your limit.
- Double-check what you actually paid Once the auction wraps up, look at Portfolio → Trades → Executed to see your filled orders. Sometimes the final price differs by a cent or two from the indicative one—usually down to rounding or hidden orders sneaking in at the last second.
- Dig into the official numbers Got a big order? Peek at the ASX auction summary at ASX Market Data to confirm the exact clearing price and how much actually traded.
