Stop Order
An order to buy or sell a security when its price surpasses a particular point, thus ensuring a greater probability of achieving a predetermined entry or exit price, limiting the investor's loss or locking in his or her profit. Once the price surpasses the predefined entry/exit point, the stop order becomes a market order.
Also referred to as a "stop" and/or "stop-loss order". Investopedia Says:
Investors commonly use a stop order before leaving for holidays or entering a situation where they are unable to monitor their portfolio for an extended period.
Stops are not a 100% guarantee of getting the desired entry/exit points. For instance, if a stock gaps down, the trader's stop order will be triggered (or filled) at a price significantly lower than expected.
Traders who use technical analysis will place stop orders below major moving averages, trendlines, swing highs, swing lows or other key support or resistance levels. Related Terms:
Buy-Stop Order
Conditional Order
Limit order
Resistance
Stop-Limit Order
Stop-Loss Order
Stopped Out
Support
Swing High
Swing Low |