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Using Different Market Order Types to Promote Trading Efficiency

June 14, 2018 by Daniels Trading| Tips & Strategies

In the fast-paced arena of online futures trading, being able to enter and exit a market efficiently is of paramount importance. Having the ability to instantly open a new position or close an existing one is critical to managing risk while promoting reward. In turbulent trading conditions, the use of various market order types can be a viable way of managing the chaos.

According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a market order is an order to buy or sell a security immediately upon an open exchange. While this type of order has several drawbacks, it’s the only sure-fire way to adjust your current market exposure within the blink of an eye.

Executing a Market Order

Market orders provide traders a unique functionality that differs from other order types. While limit and stop-limit orders are placed at the exchange to be filled at a specific price or better, market orders are executed instantly at the best available price. Buy market orders are filled at or near the current ask price and sell market orders are filled at or near the prevailing bid.

Register for our upcoming webinar A Modern Take on Volume Analysis and Market Profile in Futures Markets>>

Before the era of online futures trading, the procedure for executing a market order varied depending upon what type of trader you were. If you were a floor trader, then a verbal queue or hand signal was used to instantly buy or sell contracts of a desired product. In the event that you were an off-the-floor trader, then a phone call to your broker was necessary.

Under the open-outcry auction format, pit traders had a definitive speed advantage over participants not privy to the floor. In the digital futures marketplace, executing various market order types is as easy as clicking the buy market or sell market button on your trading platform.

Market Order Types

Aside from market orders coming in basic buy and sell varieties, they are instrumental to the functionality of two distinct order types:

  • Market-if-touched (MIT): MIT orders are placed upon the exchange at a specific price level in the same fashion as a traditional limit order. However, when the market touches a specified level, the MIT order is immediately filled at the best available price. MIT orders are regularly used by intraday traders to capture entry for breakouts and range trades or to lock in profits during periods of enhanced volatility.
  • Stop: Stop orders are similar to MIT orders but are primarily used to close out existing positions. Stop orders are placed at specific levels to be executed instantly at the best available price when hit. In contrast to MIT orders, the buy/sell functions for stop orders are reversed. For instance, in an active short position, the stop order is placed above current price to be executed when the market rallies to the specified level.

The Market Order Trade-Off

The single largest advantage to using the MIT and stop order types is the certainty of execution. In fast-moving futures products, such as WTI crude oil, or in contracts exhibiting limited liquidity, it can be a challenge to enter or exit the market at a specific price. Limit and stop limit orders can be skipped — MIT and stop orders cannot.

Here are several advantages to implementing market, MIT, and stop orders:

  • Ability to cut losses immediately
  • Capitalize upon unexpected momentum and developing breakouts
  • Lock in profits on the fly

Conversely, conducting trade exclusively via market orders has a few drawbacks:

  • Increased costs associated with slippage
  • Lack of precision during order entry
  • Tests trader discipline and psychology on an ongoing basis

There is an ideal time and place for the use of various market order types. If speed is of paramount performance, then the instant execution a market order provides is well worth the cost. If time is not of the essence, a more structured order entry approach may be optimal.

Becoming Proficient in Market Orders

The market order is a valuable addition to the short-term trader’s tool box. Whether you’re interested in momentum trading on compressed time frames or in aggressive risk management, market orders provide a wealth of options.

Daniels Trading’s flagship software suite dt Pro offers many advanced order types, including one-click market order functionality. A complimentary trial of dt Pro is a great way to experiment with all order types and determine which are best suited for your trading plan.

Request a free trial of DT Pro

Filed Under: Tips & Strategies

About Daniels Trading

Daniels Trading is division of StoneX Financial Inc. located in the heart of Chicago’s financial district. Established by renowned commodity trader Andy Daniels in 1995, Daniels Trading was built on a culture of trust committed to a mission of Independence, Objectivity and Reliability.

Risk Disclosure

STOP ORDERS DO NOT NECESSARILY LIMIT YOUR LOSS TO THE STOP PRICE BECAUSE STOP ORDERS, IF THE PRICE IS HIT, BECOME MARKET ORDERS AND, DEPENDING ON MARKET CONDITIONS, THE ACTUAL FILL PRICE CAN BE DIFFERENT FROM THE STOP PRICE. IF A MARKET REACHED ITS DAILY PRICE FLUCTUATION LIMIT, A "LIMIT MOVE", IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE A STOP LOSS ORDER.

The StoneX Group Inc. group of companies provides financial services worldwide through its subsidiaries, including physical commodities, securities, exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives, risk management, global payments and foreign exchange products in accordance with applicable law in the jurisdictions where services are provided. References to over-the-counter (“OTC”) products or swaps are made on behalf of StoneX Markets LLC (“SXM”), a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”) and provisionally registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a swap dealer. SXM’s products are designed only for individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an ‘Eligible Contract Participant’ (“ECP”) and who have been accepted as customers of SXM. StoneX Financial Inc. (“SFI”) is a member of FINRA/NFA/SIPC and registered with the MSRB. SFI does business as Daniels Trading/Top Third/Futures Online. SFI is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as a Broker-Dealer and with the CFTC as a Futures Commission Merchant and Commodity Trading Adviser. References to securities trading are made on behalf of the BD Division of SFI and are intended only for an audience of institutional clients as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c). References to exchange-traded futures and options are made on behalf of the FCM Division of SFI.

Trading swaps and over-the-counter derivatives, exchange-traded derivatives and options and securities involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information herein is not a recommendation to trade nor investment research or an offer to buy or sell any derivative or security. It does not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and does not create a binding obligation on any of the StoneX group of companies to enter into any transaction with you. You are advised to perform an independent investigation of any transaction to determine whether any transaction is suitable for you. No part of this material may be copied, photocopied or duplicated in any form by any means or redistributed without the prior written consent of StoneX Group Inc.

© 2023 StoneX Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Risk Disclosure

The StoneX Group Inc. group of companies provides financial services worldwide through its subsidiaries, including physical commodities, securities, exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives, risk management, global payments and foreign exchange products in accordance with applicable law in the jurisdictions where services are provided. References to over-the-counter (“OTC”) products or swaps are made on behalf of StoneX Markets LLC (“SXM”), a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”) and provisionally registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a swap dealer. SXM’s products are designed only for individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an ‘Eligible Contract Participant’ (“ECP”) and who have been accepted as customers of SXM. StoneX Financial Inc. (“SFI”) is a member of FINRA/NFA/SIPC and registered with the MSRB. SFI does business as Daniels Trading/Top Third/Futures Online. SFI is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as a Broker-Dealer and with the CFTC as a Futures Commission Merchant and Commodity Trading Adviser. References to securities trading are made on behalf of the BD Division of SFI and are intended only for an audience of institutional clients as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c). References to exchange-traded futures and options are made on behalf of the FCM Division of SFI.

Trading swaps and over-the-counter derivatives, exchange-traded derivatives and options and securities involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information herein is not a recommendation to trade nor investment research or an offer to buy or sell any derivative or security. It does not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and does not create a binding obligation on any of the StoneX group of companies to enter into any transaction with you. You are advised to perform an independent investigation of any transaction to determine whether any transaction is suitable for you. No part of this material may be copied, photocopied or duplicated in any form by any means or redistributed without the prior written consent of StoneX Group Inc.

© 2023 StoneX Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

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