Setting Up Stop Loss Orders

Setting Up Stop Loss Orders

Stop loss order levels should be in fact consistent, else they will cost you money. Self-assertive levels are liable to be initiated by the ordinary cycle. 

Base your stop losses on specialized levels, for example, 

• Support/resistance levels, 
• Above and/or below the latest peak/trough, 
• Above and/or below reversal signals; or 
• At the intersection of moving averages. 

Example

This example represents the use of 2 diverse specialized levels for stop losses: 

The primary stop loss is set just below the level of the latest trough. 

The second stop-loss is put below the support line (on a reversal signal above the support line). 

Backing and Resistance Levels 

Avoid from setting your stop loss precisely at the support or resistance level for two reasons: 

1. Trends regularly switch at these levels and you might be stopped out superfluously; 

2. A large number of stops might be set at the support or resistance level, particularly where it has framed at a round number. 

Rather set your stop loss one or two ticks below a support level or one or two ticks above a resistance level. For instance: If a support level has shaped at $20.00, set the stop loss at $19.90 so that you are only stopped out if the support level is penetrated.