Stop losses are a necessity to any trading system. They can help a trader prevent maximum losses. It is recommended by all financial institutions, brokers and mentors that every trading system have a stop loss rule in place. There are a list of basic guidelines that most brokers would recommend any trader to use when it comes to stop losses.

Firstly, always analyze the market environment before placing a stop loss because no each trade has the exact same point where a stop loss can be incorporated in. This is to ensure, that the stop loss is kept in the exact point that best suits each trade. Always have a pre-determined profit margin before placing a stop loss. This allows you to know exactly where you should place your stop loss, so you can achieve your pre-determined profit margin. Stop losses should never be placed near the existing price. Lastly, the stop loss should not be place too far either, that it become inconsequential to the trade.

There are some basic ways in which to determine the best stop loss point. Firstly, when performing technical analysis, specifically Parabolic SAR, you can either use ten pips on top of the parabolic SAR dot as a stop loss point or ten pips below the parabolic SAR dot as a stop loss point. . However, if the stop loss point if quite a distance away from the point you wish to come into the market, its advised you don’t place the stop loss point there. Instead , a stop loss point can be placed either on top of the day before’s high and low or below the day before’s high or low.

Another way of determining the best stop loss point is by using moving averages. Again placing the point on top of the moving average by ten pips, or below the moving average by ten pips. Bollinger bands can also be used. Again either place the point above the band by ten pips or below the band by ten pips.

By following the guidelines mentioned above, determining the exact point where a stop loss can be placed is possible. As well as that, the placement of the stop loss will ensure the reduction of loss any trader can encounter.

This article has explained the benefits of using a stop loss. As well as that, the ways in which to determine where a stop loss point can be placed have been discussed. This includes the various technical analysis traders use, and the ways in which they can use that to determine the best point.

Arkaitz Arteaga MarketStock.net

There is always risk in any stock traded, no matter how predictable a stock can be or how much research has been done on the stock. Risk on a stock is divided into two parts. There is market risk and specific risk. These two risks are very different. The differences between the two will be explained.

Market risk is risk that can not be diversified away. Market risk can also be referred to as systematic risk. This form of risk refers to matters that are out of the investors control. For example, changes in a stock price due to changes in the stock market. All forms of securities have market risk. This includes, bonds and stocks. Market risk is a mixture of the market, inflation rates and interest rates. For example, if the market suddenly increases, most stocks increase in value as well. However, if the market suddenly decreases, so does the value of the stock. These three factors can not be avoided by any investor. It effects everyone participating in the stock market. Thus, market risk can in no way be diversified away.

Specific risk on the other hand can be diversified away. Specific risk can also be referred to as unsystematic risk. Specific risks are risks that are unique to a stock. It includes business and financial risk related to the stock. As well as that, liquidity risk. The amount of specific risk can be reduced through diversification. An example of specific risk is, say news about a specific stock, where there is a strike by the employees in the company where there are shares you hold.

There is a system that is able to differentiate from market and specific risk effecting any particular stock. This system is called the fama-French tree factor model. It differentiates between the two risks by using three factors. Firstly there is the book to market ratio. Secondly there is the magnitude of the firm. Lastly there is the market portfolios return.

Firstly, the ratio referred to as the book to market ratio simply is the estimate of the companies worth divided by the magnitude of the firm. Secondly, the magnitude of the firm is brought about by the shares price times the added number of shares the firm has in the market. Thirdly, an index like S&P 500 is where the return on the market portfolio is retrieved from.

Under the fama-French three factor model, market risk is classified as the book to market ratio and the magnitude of the firm. This means, that for market risk, a higher amount of returns is expected. This is because market risk is out of the control of the investors and they are unable to diversify it, thus higher amounts of returns are expected. Specific risk is everything else. This form of risk can be diversified by investing not only in one stock but in many different company stocks.

This article has discussed the differences between market and specific risk. The fama-French three factor model has been explained and the ways in which it differentiates between market and specific risk.

Arkaitz Arteaga MarketStock.net