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On other hand some stocks can move $2 or $3 in a heart beat and reverse just as quickly for $2 or $3 move into money for a total of $4-$6 or more. A $.50 stop on these will have you stopped of trade and out of money more often then not. I suggest that unless you are familiar with these stocks that have a history of wild swings that you avoid them until you get familiar with them.
The Trading Stop Itself
It is opinion of many experienced traders and one that I share, that stop order should not actually be placed. Instead you determine what price it should be and be ready to place order if and when trade turns against you and nears your stop price. This is referred to as "mental stops". You can even go as far as having order form all filled out and ready to execute as price approaches your stop price. A lot of newer trading platforms will allow you to actually place order in their system but it is not sent to market for execution until price is reached.
When you actually place order, you lose control of you trade. Many systems do not allow you to have two orders on same position at same time. If you want to sell stock you first have to cancel stop and get confirmation back before you can place another order.
On a stock that is moving rapidly against you some traders prefer to use a market order for quick exit. I do not like use of market orders any under circumstances. There are too many pitfalls involved with use of market orders. Instead I suggest you use a limit price that is significantly lower then bid that assures you get a fill.
However you chose to exercise use of stop loss orders is up to you but it has to be done. DTM with use of stop orders is only way to defend against dreaded death spiral.
See more Trading Tips at http://www.TraderAide.com
There are many excellent books on learning to day trade. My favorites are found at http://www.TraderAide.com/books
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Floyd Snyder has been trading and investing in the stock market for three decades. He was on the forefront of the day trading craze that swept the nation back in late 1990’s as a trader and moderator of one of the Internet’s largest real time trading rooms. He is the owner of http://www.TraderAide.com and Strictly Business Magazine at http://www.sbmag.org. He is currently the Room Moderator at the live trading desk at http:www.daytraders.com