Orders and execution

The essentials

Market orders seek prompt execution at available prices. Limit orders constrain price but may never fill. Stop orders activate at a trigger and their execution depends on the specific order type and platform.

Put it in context

Fast markets, gaps and thin liquidity can produce slippage or partial fills. A stop-market order may execute beyond its trigger. A stop-limit order may remain unfilled after activation.

Before you act

Practise order entry in a simulated environment. Check order size, direction, expiry and whether an order reduces or increases exposure.

Further reading: CFTC forex education, BLS CPI, Federal Reserve monetary policy. Reviewed 6 October 2026.