A conditional order is any order other than a limit order which is executed only when a specific condition is satisfied.
Stop orders A
stop order or
stop-loss order is an order to buy or sell a stock once the price of the stock reaches a specified price, known as the
stop price. When the stop price is reached, a stop order becomes a market order. A buy-stop order is entered at a stop price above the current market price. Investors generally use a buy-stop order to limit a loss, or to protect a profit, on a stock that they have sold short. A sell-stop order is entered at a stop price below the current market price. Investors generally use a sell-stop order to limit a loss or to protect a profit on a stock that they own. Investors can also use stop loss orders to counter a behavioural bias called the
Disposition Effect. When the stop price is reached, the stop order becomes a market order. This means the trade will definitely be executed, but not necessarily at or near the stop price, particularly when the order is placed into a fast-moving market, or if there is insufficient liquidity available relative to the size of the order. The use of stop orders is much more frequent for stocks and futures that trade on an exchange. Retail traders often rely on stop-loss orders in leveraged markets like futures and forex to manage
downside risk and reduce emotional decision-making under pressure, than those that trade in the
over-the-counter (OTC) market. A buy-
stop price is always above the current market price. For example, if an investor
sells a stock short — hoping for the stock price to go down so they can return the borrowed shares at a lower price (i.e.
covering) — the investor may use a buy-stop order to protect against losses if the price goes too high. It can also be used to advantage in a declining market when an investor decides to enter a long position at what he perceives to be prices close to the bottom after a market sell-off.
Stop-limit order A
stop-limit order is an order to buy or sell a stock that combines the features of a stop order and a limit order. Once the stop price is reached, a stop-limit order becomes a limit order that will be executed at a specified price (or better). As with all limit orders, a stop-limit order does not get filled if the security's price never reaches the specified limit price.
Trailing stop order A
trailing stop order is entered with a stop parameter that creates a moving or
trailing activation price, hence the name. This parameter is entered as a percentage change or actual specific amount of rise (or fall) in the security price. Trailing stop sell orders are used to maximize and protect profit as a stock's price rises and limit losses when its price falls. For example, a trader has bought stock ABC at $10.00 and immediately places a trailing stop sell order to sell ABC with a $1.00 trailing stop (10% of its current price). This sets the stop price to $9.00. After placing the order, ABC does not exceed $10.00 and falls to a low of $9.01. The trailing stop order is not executed because ABC has not fallen $1.00 from $10.00. Later, the stock rises to a high of $15.00 which resets the stop price to $13.50. It then falls to $13.50 ($1.50 (10%) from its high of $15.00) and the trailing stop sell order is entered as a market order. A trader can use a trailing stop order to lock the stop-loss amount and reduce the risk to your acceptable range without limiting your profitable potential.
Trailing stop-limit order A
trailing stop-limit order is similar to a trailing stop order. Instead of selling at market price when triggered, the order becomes a limit order..
Peg orders To behave like a market maker, it is possible to use what are called peg orders.
Peg best Like a real
market maker, the stepper: • Uses the other side of the
spread • Always jumps over the competitors order to be the best one, the first in the line The conditions are: • Price limitation, no more jumping over, unless the price moves back to its area • Step value
Mid-price peg A mid-price order is an order whose limit price is continually set at the average of the "best bid" and "best offer" prices in the market. The values of the bid and offer prices used in this calculation may be either a local or
national best bid and offer. They are also called Peg-to-Midpoint. Mid-price peg order types are commonly supported on
alternative trading systems and
dark pools, where they enable market participants to trade whereby each pays half of the
bid–offer spread, often without revealing their trading intentions to others beforehand.
Market-if-touched order A
buy market-if-touched order is an order to buy at the best available price, if the market price goes down to the "if touched" level. As soon as this trigger price is touched the order becomes a market buy order. A
sell market-if-touched order is an order to sell at the best available price, if the market price goes up to the "if touched" level. As soon as this trigger price is touched the order becomes a market sell order.
One cancels other orders One cancels other (OCO) orders are used when the trader wishes to capitalize on only one of two or more possible trading possibilities. For instance, the trader may wish to trade stock ABC at $10.00 or XYZ at $20.00. In this case, they would execute an OCO order composed of two parts: A limit order for ABC at $10.00 and a limit order for XYZ at $20.00. If ABC reaches $10.00, ABC's limit order would be executed, and the XYZ limit order would be canceled.
One sends other orders One sends other (OSO) orders are used when the trader wishes to send a new order only when another one has been executed. For instance, the trader may wish to buy stock ABC at $10.00 then immediately try to sell it at $10.05 to gain the spread. In this case, they would execute an OSO order composed of two parts: A limit buy order for ABC at $10.00, and a limit sell order for the same stock at $10.05. If ABC reaches $10.00, ABC's limit order would be executed, and the sell limit order would be sent. In short, multiple orders are attached to a main order, and the orders are executed sequentially.
Tick-sensitive orders An uptick is when the last (non-zero) price change is positive, and a downtick is when the last (non-zero) price change is negative. Any tick-sensitive instruction can be entered at the trader's option, for example
buy on downtick, although these orders are rare. In markets where short sales may only be executed on an uptick, a short–sell order is inherently tick-sensitive.
At the opening At the opening is an order type set to be executed at the very opening of the
stock market trading day. If it would not be possible to execute it as part of the first
trade for the day, it would instead be cancelled. == Discretionary order ==