| How to Make Money from Share Investing and Trading Through Using A Stop Loss |
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| Written by Sam McNeill |
| Monday, 28 September 2009 14:05 |
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A stop loss is a price that we use as the trigger price to sell out of a losing trade. We need to have a stop loss price because not all trades succeed - some fail. Even the best trading techniques struggle to deliver a success rate of more than 70%. Therefore even using some of the best trading techniques we will still end up with two or three losing trades out of every ten. For these losing trades we must keep our losses really really small.
A stop loss is a price that we use as the trigger price to sell out of a losing trade. We need to have a stop loss price because not all trades succeed - some fail. Even the best trading techniques struggle to deliver a success rate of more than 70%. Therefore even using some of the best trading techniques we will still end up with two or three losing trades out of every ten. For these losing trades we must keep our losses really really small. Every trade can only have one of five possible outcomes: Breakeven A large profit. A small loss. A large loss. A large loss. That's it. Five possible outcomes, no more, no less. If you could eliminate one of these five outcomes, which one would you choose? That's right - the large loss. If you eliminate the large loss you are only left with the other four possible outcomes. If our small losses, breakeven trades and small profits even out over a period of time you will only be left with the occasional large profit, a rather pleasing outcome. We use the Stop Loss to eliminate any large losses because it is clearly a very sensible thing to do. Our Stop Loss Rule has three parts: 1. Always have your Stop Loss in place for every single trade that you do. 2. Your Stop Loss price is set at the level where your loss will be 2% of total trading capital. 3. When your Stop Loss price is hit then you sell. For those who may be new to share trading the most difficult part of this rule is part 3. You must sell when your stop loss price is hit. It's the most difficult part of the rule because it brings into play your emotions. Despite the huge emotional drag not to sell - you must sell. When your stop loss price is hit then you sell, no scond guessing. Following this simple and straight forward rule protects your hard earned cash. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Want to find out more about sharetrading, then visit the Just Shares site on how to choose the best share trading course for your needs. |