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Monetary Market Advisors

Buy Limit vs. Buy Stop

A buy limit is used to buy below the current price while a buy stop is used to buy above the current price. They are pending orders for a buy in Forex Trading (and other financial trades) if you don’t want to buy at the current market price or you want to buy when the price changes to a certain direction.

In order to trade, you have to buy or sell at the current market price or use pending orders to be executed at a particular price. There are four types of Forex trading orders: market order, one cancels the other order, limit order, and stop order.

buy-limit-stop-graph

Differences

Buy Limit Order

If the currency or security for trading reaches the limit price, the limit order becomes a market order. It is used to buy below the current price when the value is believed to increase after dropping at the limit price.  It sets the maximum or minimum value you are willing to buy a certain stock.

Example: Stock currently trading at $100; limit price at $90.

You wait for the right buying opportunity when the price drops at $90 or lower to buy.

Buy Stop Order

If the currency or security for trading reaches the stop price, the stop order becomes a market order. It is used to buy above the current price when the value is believed to increase continuously. It allows you to limit loss.

Example: Stock currently trading at $100; stop price at $110.

You are waiting for the right buying opportunity but the price increases and does not drop. If the value reaches $110, you buy to control or lessen incurring loss.

 

Four Types of Trading Orders

The trading orders offered by brokers for buying and selling in Forex are as follows:

  1. Market Order

It is sometimes referred to as an unrestricted order. It is used to buy or sell at the current market price.  Caution is needed because there can be a disparity between the actual price and the price when the order is given. It is the default option (source).

  1. One Cancels the Other Order

It is a pending order used in case of simultaneous limit order and stop-loss order. The limit order is used and the currency is sold for profit if the market reaches the limit price. The stop-loss order is used when the market falls in order to avoid loss.

  1. Limit Order

It is a pending order used to buy or sell at the limit order price. It is used to buy below the market price or sell above the market price. It can assure that the trade to be made is at a specific price or better.

  1. Stop Order

Also known as stop-loss order, it is a pending order used to buy or sell at the stop order price. It is used to buy above the market price or sell below the market price if the market behaves contrary to the broker’s thought. This is advantageous for investors who cannot actively monitor their stocks for some time.

Updated: September 13, 2017 — 5:09 am

1 Comment

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  1. paul adriaan kleimeer

    i dont understand wealth simple has a stop limit order poorly explained or i just dont get it when the stock reaches the stop price it turns into a limit order ? how do i sell at a set price.

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