Buy stop orders and stop loss orders.

Stop orders and more

The key to success

Stop orders are a key ingredient. No broker offers more order types than WH SelfInvest. More than 15 stop loss orders are available. Also available are buy stop orders, orders based on time (e.g. orders only valid between specified hours) etc.

  More stop order types than any other broker.

  More order types than any other broker.

  Guaranteed stops available but not obligatory.

  Stops can be placed on trend-lines and trend-channels.

  Indicators can be used as stops.

  No programming required.


Satisfied clients with NanoTrader.


The trailing stop

Trailing stop order.

A trailing stop order raises its trigger level when the market goes up. The trigger level trails the market price. If the market price goes down or  sideways, the level does not change. The distance between the market price and the trigger level is specified at the start by the trader.

This example shows the trailing stop order moving sideways when the market moves sideways. When the market moves up, the trailing stop starts trailing.

Tip: in NanoTrader it is possible to define the distance of the stop order based on price,  percentage or volatility. E.g. when the trader selects 0,25 percent the stop will be 0,25% below the market price.

The time stop

Time stop order.

The time stop order is a time limit. If a position is not closed before a number of periods determined by the trader elapses, then the position is closed at the market price.

In this example the position is automatically closed after 15 candles (periods).

Tip: the time stop is often combined with another stop order type in order to protect the position before the time limit is reached.

Tip: time stops are often used in break-out strategies which usually make their biggest profit in the first candles.

The indicator stop

stop order  based on technical analysis indicator.

Every technical analysis indicator can be used as an indicator stop order. Combinations of indicators can also be used as a stop. The NanoTrader continuously compares all the stops you selected and will keep the safest stop as the active stop. Another unique NanoTrader functionality.

In this example the crossing moving average indicator is used. The position is automatically stopped out when the fast moving average crosses the slow moving average downwards.

Video: a quick and easy way to do automated trading based on technical analysis indicators is by using the Tactic Orders tool.

The trend-line and trend-channel stop

trend line and trend channel stop order.

Stop orders can be placed on your trend-lines and trend-channels.

In this example the stop order is placed on a trend-channel. The stop automatically follows the trend-channel upwards. If the market price drops out of the trend-channel the position is automatically closed. Another unique NanoTrader functionality.

Tip: the stop order evolves in steps because it must follow trade-able price levels. E.g. this future trades in ticks of 0,5.

The fixed stop (click stop)

Fixed stop order.

The fixed stop, called click stop in NanoTrader, is the classic stop loss order. The trader specifies a price level. When the market reaches this level, a market order is launched.

In this example the market price is 1,37979. If the market goes down and reaches the stop level (1,37590), a market order is automatically launched.

Tip: in NanoTrader the trader can simply grab his stop order in the chart and drag it to another price level.

The linear stop

Linear stop order.

The linear stop is a stop order which automatically increases its activation threshold with a fixed value after every period.

In this example the trader specified his stop should increase every period with 2,5 points. Some traders prefer the linear stop to the trailing stop because it never goes sideways when the market goes sideways or down.

Tip: NanoTrader can place all your stop orders automatically when you open a position manually.

The break-even stop

break-even stop order.

The break-even stop is a stop order which automatically increases the stop price level until a specified level is reached. Before reaching this  level the break-even stop operates like a trailing stop. The trader specifies the level at which the stop will no longer rise by determining a level which must be above his entry price, hence the name break-even stop.

In this example the stop level is now fixed 5 ticks above the entry price (small green line indicated by arrow).

Tip: in NanoTrader so-called Tactic buttons allow traders to instantly convert, for example, a fixed stop into a trailing stop.

The periods high-low stop

periods high low stop order.

The periods high-low stop order is a stop order with the stop level based on the lowest (or highest) price over a certain time period.

This example shows a long position. The stop level (red line) is automatically moved up to the  lowest price of the last 10 periods. These lowest price levels are indicated by the dotted lines.

Tip: this particular stop order often increases the profitability of a trading strategy. It is not very well-known although it is often used by professional traders. It tends to pay to experiment with this stop order when testing a strategy.


Free trading platform demo real-time quotes.


The kasedev stop

kasedev stop order.

The kasedev stop order calculates a new stop level at the end of every period. The level is calculated by using the market volatility.

This example illustrates the stop going up fast when there is volatility and slow down when there is nearly no volatility.

Tip: like the periods high-low stop the kasedev stop is not well-known among private traders. Nevertheless it is a stop worth experimenting with. Don't forget that every client gets a free permanent demo account in order to experiment!

The average price stop

average price stop order.

The average price stop places the stop level on the average entry price of a position. A trader building his position in steps can place his stop on his average entry price by clicking on the Tactic order button. He can do this every time he adds to his position.

In this example two positions were bought one after the other. The stop is now at the average entry price.

Tip: one-click using the Tactic buttons is always sufficient to place this order.

The parabolic stop

parabolic stop order.

The parabolic stop places the stop level closer and closer to the market price as time elapses. The trader decides the shape of the parabola by setting both the horizontal and the vertical movements.

This example clearly shows the typical acceleration and shape of a parabola as time elapses.

Tip: for an efficient parabolic stop it is important to precisely set both time and movement.

The betrail stop

Betrail stop.

The betrail stop (break-even trailing stop) is almost a complete trading strategy on its own. The trader specifies three price levels for consecutive stop orders. The initial stop -a classic fixed stop- is automatically placed when the position is opened. When the market climbs above the trader's entry price, the stop automatically increases to the entry price (or above, if so desired). When the market continues to climb, the stop converts into a trailing stop.

This example shows the initial stop (1), the break-even stop at the entry price (2) and, finally, the trailing stop (3).

Tip: this unique stop can be found in the Express folder.

The timed stop (flat filter)

Nanotrader Flat filter.

The timed stop, usually called flat filter, closes the position at the market price at a specific point in time. The trader can also specify an end time. No new position will be opened before the end time is reached.

This example shows a flat filter which closed a position at 18h00. The flat filter colours the chart background as a visual reminder.

Tip: this stop can be found in the Timed Exits and Filters folder. It is often used by traders to avoid keeping positions overnight. They set the end time just before market close and NanoTrader closes the position automatically.

Orders based on time

An order which is only live during particular hours of the day? Close a position at particular point in time? Everything is possible and easy in NanoTrader.

Bracket orders and chart orders

The optimal protection of your position

Bracket orders.

Clicking the Buy or Sell buttons in the chart opens the order ticket. This trader is placing a market order. By ticking "Add Contingent Orders" he instructs the platform to automatically place a target and a stop order after he launches his market order. These are the horizontal red lines.

It is possible to slide these orders in the chart. In this example the trader selected a resistance level in the chart for his target and a support level in the chart for his stop.

If either the target or the stop order is executed, the remaining order is cancelled automatically. This is called 'OCO', one cancels other.

Click the charts to place orders

Orders can be placed via the charts. See how chart orders, indicator orders, trade wizard orders etc. are placed.

Trailing target orders

Extract the maximum profit!

Trailing target orders.

The trailing target order pulls the profit target order up if the market goes up. No other broker has trailing target orders

In this example the trader buys a position. He puts his profit target (green line) on the Bollinger Band. The market goes up strongly. Just before the profit target is reached, the trailing target increases the profit target up allowing the trader to make more profit.

More information about trailing target orders.

Multiple stops and targets

Increase and decrease positions

NanoTrader multiple stops and targets.

Many experienced traders open and close positions in steps. NanoTrader is the only trading platform that can handle trading strategies which open and close positions in more than two steps.

NanoTrader is also the only platform capable of automatically adapting the order quantities when positions are sold and bought one after the other.

In this example a trader bought four contracts. One has reached its profit target. The three remaining contracts each have a different profit target (green). The stop order (red) automatically adapted the order quantity to three.

More information and examples.

Safety Net

Safe automated trading

NanoTrader Safety Net.

The Safety Net (located in the Filters folder) automatically stops automated trading and closes the position when an event, defined by the trader, occurs. These four settings can be used individually or in combination:

  • A maximum loss is reached.
  • A maximum profit is reached.
  • A maximum drawdown occurs.
  • After a certain profit level is reached, a maximum drawdown occurs.