TradingBeginner

Stop-Loss

A pre-set order that exits a position once the price hits your maximum acceptable loss.

Detailed explanation

You decide the exit level before emotion arrives. A stop-loss market order triggers and fills at whatever price is available, while a stop-loss limit order will not fill below your limit — and may not fill at all in a fast market. Gaps can execute far from the trigger.

Formula

Stop price = Entry price × (1 − Risk tolerated per trade)

Example

Buying at ₹500 with 5% tolerance sets the stop at ₹475, capping the loss at ₹25 per share before slippage.

Why it matters

Risk management, not entry selection, is what keeps traders in business over a long enough period.

Key points

  • Overnight gaps can blow through the trigger price.
  • Placing the stop just below an obvious level invites a shakeout.
  • Size the position from the stop distance, not the other way round.

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Educational content only. Definitions and examples are illustrative and are not investment, tax or legal advice.