I want to enter a trailing stop order to lock in a profit, but not wait until the stock has risen to enter the order that gives me my profit.
Example of what I do today:
10 AM buy @ $110
11 AM get quote at $106; check news
12 AM get quote at $111; lunch is served
1 PM get quote at $114; time for tennis; sell.
2 PM market zooms up, price goes to $119 when I'm unaware
3 PM market gives back, price goes down to to $115
3:40 PM news, price down to $95
What I do now is sell immediately after I've locked in a profit and need to turn my attentions elsewhere. But I'd like to set a trailing stop so that it locks in a profit and does not get hit on the dips below my entry price.
I want to catch most of the ride up to $119, and exiting at $117 on the way down would suffice.
On E-Trade, I can enter a trailing stop order price as $ or %. But I cannot enter a $ trigger.
eg1 Enter trailing loss '114 -2': exit at -$2 after stock hits $114
I cannot enter a profit trigger.
eg2 Enter trailing loss '+4 -2': exit at -$2 after stock hits $4 above my entry point.
The only way I can see doing so is to wait until the market price the market rises, but if I know my limits in advance, I should be able able to enter them.
Yes, I've read the thread on trailing stops vs money management.
Example of what I do today:
10 AM buy @ $110
11 AM get quote at $106; check news
12 AM get quote at $111; lunch is served
1 PM get quote at $114; time for tennis; sell.
2 PM market zooms up, price goes to $119 when I'm unaware
3 PM market gives back, price goes down to to $115
3:40 PM news, price down to $95
What I do now is sell immediately after I've locked in a profit and need to turn my attentions elsewhere. But I'd like to set a trailing stop so that it locks in a profit and does not get hit on the dips below my entry price.
I want to catch most of the ride up to $119, and exiting at $117 on the way down would suffice.
On E-Trade, I can enter a trailing stop order price as $ or %. But I cannot enter a $ trigger.
eg1 Enter trailing loss '114 -2': exit at -$2 after stock hits $114
I cannot enter a profit trigger.
eg2 Enter trailing loss '+4 -2': exit at -$2 after stock hits $4 above my entry point.
The only way I can see doing so is to wait until the market price the market rises, but if I know my limits in advance, I should be able able to enter them.
Yes, I've read the thread on trailing stops vs money management.