What happens to open positions when stop loss is triggered?

Asked by: Mr. Haleigh Parker  |  Last update: December 1, 2025
Score: 5/5 (66 votes)

From a technical perspective, a stop loss order is an order that automatically closes an open position by executing an order of the same size in the opposite direction when a certain price level is reached.

What happens when stop-loss is triggered?

When a stop-loss is triggered, it will execute the contract at the market price, not the stop-loss price. There is an increased risk of the execution price for higher volatility securities being below the stop-loss price. A stop-loss order converts into a market order once the stop price is triggered.

What happens if the market opens below my stop-loss?

If a trader places a stop-loss order and the market opens below that price, the order will be filled near the opening price, regardless of how far below that price.

What happens when a stop order is triggered?

When a stop order is submitted, it is sent to the execution venue and placed on the order book, where it remains until the stop triggers, expires, or is canceled by the trader. Once triggered, a stop order becomes a market order, which will generally result in an execution.

What is the 1% rule for stop-loss?

Whether you use a stop loss or not is up to you, but the 1% risk rule means you don't lose more than 1% of your capital on a single trade. If you allow yourself to risk 2% then, it would be the 2% rule. If you only risk 0.5%, then it is the 0.5% rule.

Why I don’t use Stop-Loss anymore

40 related questions found

Will open positions remain open even when my stop loss is triggered?

No, open positions will remain open except in certain market conditions, ex. if Stop Loss or Take Profit is triggered, or bulk closing on futures. Trailing Stops and Expert Advisors become inactive when your trading account is offline.

What is the golden rule for stop loss?

The golden rule of Stop Losses is that they should never be moved away from the market once the trade is opened. If a trader feels that their stop loss is incorrectly placed, they are recognising that the foundations of their trade are incorrect and therefore they should close out.

What is the 7% stop-loss rule?

Always sell a stock it if falls 7%-8% below what you paid for it. This basic principle helps you always cap your potential downside. If you're following rules for how to buy stocks and a stock you own drops 7% to 8% from what you paid for it, something is wrong.

What is the best stop-loss strategy?

What stop-loss percentage should I use? According to research, the most effective stop-loss levels for maximizing returns while limiting losses are between 15% and 20%. These levels strike a balance between allowing some market fluctuation and protecting against significant downturns.

Can a stop-loss order fail?

A risk of using a stop-loss order is that it may be triggered by a temporary price fluctuation, causing the investor to sell unnecessarily. For example, if a security's price drops suddenly and then quickly recovers. Here, you may end up selling at a loss and missing out on potential gains.

Why traders don't use stop-loss?

The main disadvantage of using stop loss is that it can get activated by short-term fluctuations in stock price. Remember the key point that while choosing a stop loss is that it should allow the stock to fluctuate day-to-day while preventing the downside risk as much as possible.

Do market makers know your stop-loss?

However, market makers can sometimes infer the likely presence of stop losses based on the price action, order flow, and liquidity levels at certain price points. This can happen especially in thinly traded stocks or during times of low liquidity.

Can stop-loss trigger premarket?

in premarket, the only thing you can do is create a 'sell' limit order. You can't use stop limit orders or even just plain stops. All you can do is create a sell order way lower than the price you are willing to pay, and then drag it up, from that position onto the trendline when you are ready to make the purchase.

Why stop losses are a bad idea?

One disadvantage of the stop-loss order concerns price gaps. If a stock price suddenly gaps below (or above) the stop price, the order would trigger. The stock would be sold (or bought) at the next available price even if the stock is trading sharply away from your stop loss level.

Does a stop-loss close your position?

Key takeaways

Stop-loss orders allow investors to automatically cut their losses when a price level set in advance (the trigger price) is reached. From a technical perspective, a stop loss order is a trigger order that closes an open position by executing an order of the same size in the opposite direction.

What are the disadvantages of a stop-loss order?

Disadvantages of stop-loss orders

Market fluctuation and volatility. Stop-loss orders may result in unnecessary selling or buying if there are temporary fluctuations in the stock price, especially with short-term intraday price moves.

What is the 2% stop-loss rule?

One popular method is the 2% Rule, which means you never put more than 2% of your account equity at risk (Table 1). For example, if you are trading a $50,000 account, and you choose a risk management stop loss of 2%, you could risk up to $1,000 on any given trade.

What is the 6% stop-loss rule?

The 6% stop-loss rule is another risk management strategy used in trading. It involves setting your stop-loss order at a level where, if the trade moves against you, you would only lose a maximum of 6% of your total trading capital on that particular trade.

Which indicator is best for stop-loss?

Using the Average True Range (ATR) for stop-loss orders

One of the primary applications of the ATR indicator is setting stop-loss orders that account for an asset's natural price fluctuations. This approach helps traders avoid being stopped out by normal market volatility while still protecting their positions.

What is the 357 rule in trading?

What is the 3 5 7 rule in trading? A risk management principle known as the “3-5-7” rule in trading advises diversifying one's financial holdings to reduce risk. The 3% rule states that you should never risk more than 3% of your whole trading capital on a single deal.

What is the 3000 loss rule?

Capital losses that exceed capital gains in a year may be used to offset capital gains or as a deduction against ordinary income up to $3,000 in any one tax year. Net capital losses in excess of $3,000 can be carried forward indefinitely until the amount is exhausted.

What is the rule of thumb for stop-loss?

A stop-loss order is placed with a broker to sell securities when they reach a specific price. 1 These orders help minimize the loss an investor may incur in a security position. So if you set the stop-loss order at 10% below the price at which you purchased the security, your loss will be limited to 10%.

Why does my stop-loss always hit?

Because your stop loss is always placed at an obvious price level where the smart money has the incentive to push the price higher, exit their trades, and then have the market reverse back in your direction. So the brokers are not really out to get you, it's just the way the market moves.

What is the best stop-loss and take profit strategy?

They may place a take-profit order that is 20% higher than the bought-at price and a stop-loss order 5% below the bought-in price. This creates a favourable 5:20 risk-to-reward ratio, assuming the odds of each outcome are equal or skewed towards the upside.

What is the trigger price in stop-loss?

Trigger price in stop loss

The trigger price, also referred to as the stop price, activation price, or stop level, is the point at which the stop loss order transitions from a passive state to an active one.