What is Stop Loss and Trailing Stop loss?

 his is a very fundamental question that any trader needs to ask before initiating the trade. There is a primary question as to whether a stop loss should be set at the time of initiating the trade or one can observe the markets and then put the stop loss. It is always better to fix the stop loss at the time of the trade as you are then saved from any sudden spike in volatility. You can actually measure the impact on your capital in a worst case scenario. There are broadly 3 rules that you can follow while setting your stop loss.

Firstly, the stop loss has to consider your ability to absorb capital loss. If you have a smaller capital base, your stop losses need to be closer even if it entails higher risk. Remember, protecting your capital is the primary goal of stop losses and that has to be respected. Secondly, technical charts are important portents of a trend change. You normally set a stop loss slightly beyond a major support or resistance level. The logic is that these technical charts are based on past experience and therefore capture collective wisdom. Lastly, there is the condition of proportionality that you have to maintain between stop loss and your profit target. A 2% stop loss and a 2% profit target is a bad risk-return trade-off. A minimum ratio of 1:3 should be maintained when setting stop losses!

To understand the concept of a trailing stop loss, let us assume that you bought HUDCO at a price of Rs.77 in the cash market since it is not currently available in the futures. You intend to hold this stock for delivery with a target of 85 in one quarter. However, the target of Rs.85 is achieved in the next 7 days itself. In fact, the stock opens on the eighth day gap-up at a price of Rs.90. What should you do? Should you take your profits off the table or should you hold on to the stock. Basic trading and investment prudence tells you that when the profit target is achieved then you must exit your position. But you also have just received a research report from your broker on HUDCO with a price target of Rs.125 as a very strong play on the affordable housing story. If you are convinced by the argument and have the capacity to wait, what exactly should you do? The answer to your dilemma could like in a Trailing Stop Loss.