• Each stock has a bid and ask price
• Each stock exchange around the globe has distinct working hours when the market is open
• Stock prices are prone to constant and often sudden fluctuations
• New traders are generally advised to stick with market orders
• Orders placed while the market is closed will be executed as soon as the next trading session commences
• Order types are the cornerstone of all trading strategies
• Certain orders can be incredibly complex and are typically employed by experienced traders

The most accessible, and therefore the most commonly used order type, is the market order. A market order means the order is placed at the current market price and is determined by the spread, or the difference between the current bid (buying) and ask (selling) prices. 

Newcomers to financial markets are generally advised to place market orders on their trades as they represent the least complicated trading order, which, in most cases, is filled in mere seconds.

Let’s consider an example of a trader who wishes to buy Tesla stock (NASDAQ:TSLA) at market price. If we assume the current ask price for one Tesla share is $745.50 and the bid is at $745.75 - this gives the trader a spread of $0.25, meaning that placing a market order could give the trader a price difference of up to 25 cents, depending on the trading volume during that specific trading session. 

Therefore, the market order can guarantee the execution of the trade but does not guarantee the price at which the trade will be executed.

For the more seasoned trader, market orders might represent a quick solution during short-term price volatility. When there is the expectation of a sudden hike in the market price of a particular stock, the trader might disregard the potential loss on the spread to capitulate on the rapidly rising price. One instance where market orders could come in handy is right before the company in question submits a new regulatory filing or publishes a financial report.

Pros & Cons of Market Orders

Pros:

• Filled all at once, therefore lower commission charges
• Order execution is practically guaranteed
• High-volume stocks with substantial market capitalization offer next to no price surprises

Cons:

• The bid-ask spread can modify the exact purchase price
• Small-cap and penny stocks have a wider bid-ask spread

On the other side of the coin, limit orders provide traders with the option to buy or sell at the price of their choosing. 

Say a trader wishes to buy a specific stock under $5 at the price of $4.75, and the stock is currently hovering around $4.99. If the trader submits a limit buy order at $4.75, the order will not be filled unless the price falls to $4.75. The same exact principle applies to selling the stock. 

The key benefit to using limit orders is the convenience of controlling prices and only buying and selling at the desired price. 

Another advantage occurs when the market opens below the trader’s pre-submitted limit buy order, at which point the order is filled at market price. 

Referring back to the example, if the market opens at $3, the order will be filled at that price, thus providing a net positive for the trader. 

Limit orders are typically not very complex and are often viewed as the next stepping stone for new traders after they’ve already had sufficient experience with placing market orders.

Pros & Cons of Limit Orders

Pros:

• Executing transactions at the desired price
• Lesser need for active monitoring
• Viable for future trades

Cons:

• If the limit price is not reached, the order will not go through
• The order may be filled partially if the price deviates mid-trade
• Partially filled orders may lead to higher commission charges

More advanced traders typically trade using complex strategies that include a certain degree of risk mitigation. During exceptional price volatility, more risk-averse traders might opt to safeguard their portfolios from sudden losses. 

A trader who purchases a specific stock at $10 and places a stop-loss order at $8.50 knows that their maximum loss per share will be $1.50. 

Another upside to using stop-loss orders is that they are free to place. Trading commission fees are only charged after the stock hits the stop-loss price and the stock is sold.

 A strategy that is aimed at minimizing losses can also be implemented to guarantee a certain profit margin. Consider this; if the price of the stock purchased by our aforementioned trader reaches $15, and they submit a stop-loss order at $13, they can rest assured that they will at least obtain a profit of $2 per share, even if the price continues to fall below the purchase price of $10. 

Stop-loss orders provide traders with greater flexibility as well as an increased awareness of their own risk tolerance. 

Pros & Cons of Stop-Loss Orders

Pros:

• Provides the opportunity to mitigate losses
• Can serve as a tool to lock in profit
• Stop-losses are free of commission charges
• Lesser need for active monitoring

Cons:

• Potentially missing out on excess profit

For the more experienced and risk-tolerant traders who tend to profit more from price dynamics and choose to sell stock short, buy-stop orders are a way to cover the potentially infinite losses they could incur while short-selling. 

When a trader sells a stock short, they are essentially placing a bet that the market price of that security will decline. This sounds straightforward on paper, but traders must keep in mind that the upside of any tradable stock is potentially infinite. Therefore, if a trader chooses to sell a stock short, the downside risk for their portfolio is also infinite. 

To mitigate such an enormous risk, buy-stop orders give investors the opportunity to set an order at a specified price, providing a “price ceiling” at which the order is filled as either a market or limit buy order. 

The price at which the stop order is filled is called the strike price, and it serves as a turning point for the trade. 

Buy-stop orders are usually part of the trading strategy from the start, or they serve as an inclination that the trader has lost confidence in their initial judgment of the trade and is seeking downside protection. 

Pros & Cons of Buy-Stop Orders

Pros:

• Useful for mitigating losses 
• Offers a precise price control

Cons:

• The order will not execute unless the strike price is met
• Price fluctuations may negate the benefits 

Trading is a complex activity where everyone’s funds are constantly at risk. But just how much risk is tolerable for a given trader? 

That question can be answered by understanding the fundamental principles behind each order type and what scenarios they are best suited for. 

By mastering the order types and knowing how they function, traders can form robust strategies that suit their needs and risk tolerance, guiding them through the coming bull and bear markets alike.

• Order types range from straightforward and fast to complex and interdependent
• When choosing what order types to stick to, traders must first evaluate their needs and risk tolerance
• Understanding the fundamentals between order types can be the difference between a successful strategy and insolvency
• Certain order types require much more attention as they pose risks in and of themselves