The act of buying and selling goods simultaneously in different markets to gain an immediate profit. Impressive, but tricky.Arbitrage is when an asset (stocks, currencies, etc.) is bought in one market and sold in another for a higher price. Arbitration is like an informal trial or hearing. The parties present evidence and arguments to their arbitrator, who is an attorney or retired judge. The simultaneous purchase and sale of the same securities, commodities, or foreign exchange in different markets to profit from unequal prices. Arbitrage is the simultaneous purchase and sale of the same asset in different markets in order to profit from a difference in its price. Energy cost arbitrage, load shifting, and energy shifting are all synonyms for activities aimed at energy-cost savings.