What are trailing conditional orders?

Trailing conditions orders allow you to set a percentage or price movement trigger from a high or low point after a trail start price has been met. This can help to maximise value or profit by automatically tracking market movements and potentially locking in your desired position from movements in either direction.

To place a trailing order, go to Trading and select Conditional orders or click here.

You can set either a Trailing Sell or Trailing Buy to help you keep your investment strategy locked in, even when your eyes are off the market. Here’s how it works…

Trailing Sell

A Trailing Sell may help with maximising a profit when a security price is rising, depending on your instructions and the market.

The aim of a Trailing Sell is to sell some or all of your holdings in a company when the following occurs:

  • the share price rises to or beyond a level you have set as your trail start price, and
  • the share then experiences a fall equal to or greater than a trail stop value you have set

For example, let's say you have been watching the price of XYZ Ltd, which has been trading at $4.00 per unit and appears to be rising. You could create a Trailing Sell trigger with a trail start price of $4.20 and trail end value of $0.10.

This means that if the market price of XYZ Ltd reaches $4.20 or higher, and then experiences a fall of $0.10 or more, a market order will be placed to sell XYZ Ltd at the best available price to cover your quantity. If XYZ Ltd reaches a high of $5.20 after passing $4.20 and before falling $0.10 or more, your order will be fired at $5.10 or lower.


Trailing Buy

A Trailing Buy may help with maximising value when investing in a company, depending on your instructions and the market.

The aim of a Trailing Buy is to purchase shares when the following occurs:

  • the share price falls to or beyond a level you have set as your trail start price, and
  • the share then experiences a rise equal to or greater than the trail stop value you have set is met

For example, suppose you have been watching the price of XYZ Ltd, which has been trading at $3.10 and appears to be declining. You could create a Trailing Buy with a trail start price of $2.90 and trail end value of $0.10.

This means that if the market price of XYZ Ltd falls to $2.90 or lower, and then experiences a rise of $0.10 or more, a market order will be placed to buy XYZ Ltd at the best available price to cover your desired quantity. If XYZ Ltd falls to a low of $1.90 after passing $2.90, and then rises by $0.10 or more; your order will be fired at $2.00 or higher.

Can I set a limit price for a trailing conditional order?

No. When a trailing conditional order is fired, the order can only be put into the market at the current market price. If you’d like to set a limit order, please consider a non-trailing conditional order.

What are the maximum trail values that I can set for a conditional trailing order?

The trail value can be expressed as a percentage or dollar amount. In the instance of a percentage, a trail value of no greater than 15% can be applied. In the instance of a dollar amount, a trail amount of no greater than 15% of the trail start price.

Things you should know

  • All limits work on an equal to or better than basis, and if an order is fired into a fast moving or volatile market, the order may execute far away from where the trail end value was met.
  • All market orders will be executed in accordance with our Best Execution Statement; however, as no limits can be set, a purchase price may be significantly higher than the trigger value. If you would like to set a limit price, please consider another of our conditional orders.

For more information about conditional orders, please read our Conditional Order Booklet.

For help with conditional trading, please call us on 13 15 19 (or +61 2 9115 1417 if calling from overseas) between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, Sydney time.

By clicking on the "Download the CommSec App" buttons above, you will be directed to itunes.apple.com or play.google.com. These sites are not affiliated with CommSec and may offer a different Privacy Policy and level of security.

 

Disclaimer

© Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814 (CommSec) is a wholly owned but non-guaranteed subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945. CommSec is a Market Participant of ASX Limited and Cboe Australia Pty Limited, a Clearing Participant of ASX Clear Pty Limited and a Settlement Participant of ASX Settlement Pty Limited.

The information on this page has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. For this reason, any individual should, before acting on this information, consider the appropriateness of the information, having regards to their objectives, financial situation or needs, and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

The content on this page may not be distributed or reproduced without prior consent and any unauthorised use of the content may breach copyright provisions. CommSec does not give any representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any content on this page, including any third party sourced data, nor does it accept liability for any errors or omissions.

This site is directed and available to and for the benefit of Australian residents only.

Top