Unfortunately, also seasoned traders fall into this trap of moving stop loss orders. And if it worked out for you once, it just worsens things for you. Are you doing that? Being aware of why you are doing it and the consequences can be a game changer.
Why do you move your stop loss?
So, you took a position in the wrong direction. This happens to everybody. You see the market approaching your stop loss, and you keep a safer distance from it, moving further away from the market and deeper into your pocket. And then you do it again and again. This usually results in a safe loss of money. More money than you planned to risk on the trade.
You may do it because you have new knowledge or a feeling that you now know where the right place to put your stop is. Confidence is great, but seriously, what new knowledge do you have since you placed the trade? Probably not too much. What makes you think that your new placement, while the trade is live, is better than your original plan, when you didn’t have a position, and were more calm?
The original plan was probably better, more balanced. Your hasty new plan isn’t likely to be better.
Another reason can be a fear to lose the trade. But let’s go back to the plan once again. You undertook a specific risk. Calculated risk is part of the game. Extending the stop loss is a bigger risk, that wasn’t calculated properly.
What happens next?
In the majority of cases, the market continues in the wrong direction for you. Why? Well, remember why you put the stop loss there? If the market will take the opposite direction, you just don’t want to be there, and cut your losses quickly. This logic was probably right, and you just lose more.
This means that you lost more than you intended to. This means that you’ll probably erase your account quickly and won’t have enough chances to improve, win trades and get your act together.
But what if the minority scenario works out? What happens if you move your stop losses, the market doesn’t reach them and then bounces in your favor. There’s a good chance you become over-confident. You believe that you can bend the rules.
So you’ll try to do it again, with a bigger-sized position. This may result in the regular scenario of losing more than you planned, and this time, the plans were more loose.
When you disregard a stop sign on the road, this may result in accident or a fine. The same goes for trading.
So please respect your own stop sign, otherwise you’ll get a big fine and your account will have an accident.
Why do you move your stop loss?
So, you took a position in the wrong direction. This happens to everybody. You see the market approaching your stop loss, and you keep a safer distance from it, moving further away from the market and deeper into your pocket. And then you do it again and again. This usually results in a safe loss of money. More money than you planned to risk on the trade.
You may do it because you have new knowledge or a feeling that you now know where the right place to put your stop is. Confidence is great, but seriously, what new knowledge do you have since you placed the trade? Probably not too much. What makes you think that your new placement, while the trade is live, is better than your original plan, when you didn’t have a position, and were more calm?
The original plan was probably better, more balanced. Your hasty new plan isn’t likely to be better.
Another reason can be a fear to lose the trade. But let’s go back to the plan once again. You undertook a specific risk. Calculated risk is part of the game. Extending the stop loss is a bigger risk, that wasn’t calculated properly.
What happens next?
In the majority of cases, the market continues in the wrong direction for you. Why? Well, remember why you put the stop loss there? If the market will take the opposite direction, you just don’t want to be there, and cut your losses quickly. This logic was probably right, and you just lose more.
This means that you lost more than you intended to. This means that you’ll probably erase your account quickly and won’t have enough chances to improve, win trades and get your act together.
But what if the minority scenario works out? What happens if you move your stop losses, the market doesn’t reach them and then bounces in your favor. There’s a good chance you become over-confident. You believe that you can bend the rules.
So you’ll try to do it again, with a bigger-sized position. This may result in the regular scenario of losing more than you planned, and this time, the plans were more loose.
When you disregard a stop sign on the road, this may result in accident or a fine. The same goes for trading.
So please respect your own stop sign, otherwise you’ll get a big fine and your account will have an accident.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD moves sideways below 1.1800 on Christmas Eve
EUR/USD struggles to find direction and trades in a narrow channel below 1.1800 after posting gains for two consecutive days. Bond and stock markets in the US will open at the usual time and close early on Christmas Eve, allowing the trading action to remain subdued.
GBP/USD keeps range around 1.3500 amid quiet markets
GBP/USD keeps its range trade intact at around 1.3500 on Wednesday. The Pound Sterling holds the upper hand over the US Dollar amid pre-Christmas light trading as traders move to the sidelines heading into the holiday season.
USD/JPY corrects further to near 155.80, gives up entire BoJ policy-led gains
USD/JPY surrenders its entire gains made on the BoJ policy announcement day, and retraces to near 155.80. Investors are in vogue over the outlook of the BoJ’s monetary tightening campaign. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates by at least 50 bps next year.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD Price Annual Forecast: Growth to displace central banks from the limelight in 2026 Premium
What a year! Donald Trump’s return to the United States (US) Presidency was no doubt what led financial markets throughout 2025. His not-always-unexpected or surprising decisions shaped investors’ sentiment, or better said, unprecedented uncertainty.
Gold Price Annual Forecast: 2026 could see new record-highs but a 2025-like rally is unlikely Premium
Gold hit multiple new record highs throughout 2025. Trade-war fears, geopolitical instability and monetary easing in major economies were the main drivers behind Gold’s rally.
GBP/USD Price Annual Forecast: Will 2026 be another bullish year for Pound Sterling? Premium
Having wrapped up 2025 on a positive note, the Pound Sterling (GBP) eyes another meaningful and upbeat year against the US Dollar (USD) at the start of 2026.
US Dollar Price Annual Forecast: 2026 set to be a year of transition, not capitulation Premium
The US Dollar (USD) enters the new year at a crossroads. After several years of sustained strength driven by US growth outperformance, aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed) tightening, and recurrent episodes of global risk aversion, the conditions that underpinned broad-based USD appreciation are beginning to erode, but not collapse.
Bitcoin Price Annual Forecast: BTC holds long-term bullish structure heading into 2026
Bitcoin (BTC) is wrapping up 2025 as one of its most eventful years, defined by unprecedented institutional participation, major regulatory developments, and extreme price volatility.
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