[sushobhan]

What is Stop Loss?

A stop loss is an order to buy (or sell) a security once the price of the security climbed above (or dropped below) a specified stop price. When the specified stop price is reached, the stop order is entered as a market order (no limit) or a limit order (fixed or pre-determined price).

With a stop order, the trader does not have to actively monitor how a stock is performing. However because the order is triggered automatically when the stop price is reached, the stop price could be activated by a short-term fluctuation in a security's price. Once the stop price is reached, the stop order becomes a market order or a limit order.

In a fast-moving volatile market, the price at which the trade is executed may be much different from the stop price in the case of a market order. Alternatively in the case of a limit order the trade may or may not get executed at all. This happens when there are no buyers or sellers available at the limit price.

Types of Stop Loss order

1) Stop Loss Limit Order - A stop loss limit order is an order to buy a security at no more (or sell at no less) than a specified limit price. This gives the trader some control over the price at which the trade is executed, but may prevent the order from being executed.

A stop loss buy limit order can only be executed by the exchange at the limit price or lower. For example, if an trader is short and wants to protect his short position but doesn't want to pay more than Rs.100 for the stock, the investor can place a stop loss buy limit order to buy the stock at any price up to Rs.100. By entering a limit order rather than a market order, the investor will not be caught buying the stock at Rs.110 if the price rises sharply.

Alternatively a stop loss sell limit order can only be executed at the limit price or higher.

The main advantage of a stop loss limit order is that the trader has total control over the price at which the order is executed. The main disadvantage of the stop loss limit order is that in a fast moving volatile market your stop loss order may not get executed if there are no buyers/sellers at the limit price.

2) Stop Loss Market Order - A stop loss market order is an order to buy (or sell) a security once the price of the security climbed above (or dropped below) a specified stop price. When the specified stop price is reached, the stop order is entered as a market order (no limit). In other words a stop loss market order is a order to buy or sell a security at the current market price prevailing at the time the stop order is triggered. This type of stop loss order gives the trader no control over the price at which the trade will be executed.

A sell stop market order is a order to sell at the best available price after the price goes below the stop price. A sell stop price is always below the current market price. For example, if an trader holds a stock currently valued at Rs.100 and is worried that the value may drop, he/she can place a sell stop order at Rs.90. If the share price drops to Rs.90, the exchange will sell the order at the next available price. This can limit the traders losses (if the stop price is at or below the purchase price) or lock in some of the profits.

A buy stop market order is typically used to limit a loss (or to protect an existing profit) on a short sale. A buy stop price is always above the current market price. For example, if an trader sells a stock short hoping the stock price goes down in order to book profits at a lower price, the trader may use a buy stop order to protect himself against losses if the price goes too high.

The main advantage of a stop loss market order is that the stop loss order will always get executed. The main disadvantage of the stop loss market is that the trader has no control over the price at which the transaction is executed.

Conclusion - Stop loss orders are great insurance policies that cost you nothing and can save you a fortune. Unless you plan to hold a stock forever, you should consider using them to protect yourself.