Trading & Orders

Stop-Loss

A stop-loss is a pre-set price level at which you commit to selling a stock to limit your downside if the trade moves against you.

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A stop-loss is a risk management discipline, not a CSE order type in the traditional sense. It is a price level you define in advance at which you will exit a position to prevent further losses. Once the stock trades at or below that price, you sell (either automatically via a standing broker instruction or manually when you notice the trigger has been hit).

The primary purpose of a stop-loss is psychological discipline — it removes the emotional decision-making that leads many investors to "hold and hope" as a position declines, often resulting in much larger losses than were necessary.

Stop-loss levels are typically set as a percentage below the purchase price (e.g., 10% below cost) or below a meaningful technical support level. The appropriate level depends on the investor's risk tolerance, the volatility of the stock, and the size of the position relative to the overall portfolio.

On the CSE, liquidity constraints are relevant. For illiquid stocks, a stop-loss may not execute near the intended price if a material seller hits the market suddenly. This "gap risk" is a key reason to avoid concentrated positions in low-liquidity names.

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On the Colombo Stock Exchange

Use the position size calculator to determine an appropriate position size that keeps your potential loss (to your stop-loss level) within your stated risk per trade, expressed as a percentage of your total portfolio.

Example

You buy shares at LKR 50 and set a 10% stop-loss at LKR 45. If the stock falls to LKR 45, you sell regardless of your fundamental view, limiting your loss to approximately 10%.

Related terms

Frequently Asked

What is Stop-Loss?

A stop-loss is a pre-set price level at which you commit to selling a stock to limit your downside if the trade moves against you.

How does this apply to the Colombo Stock Exchange?

Use the position size calculator to determine an appropriate position size that keeps your potential loss (to your stop-loss level) within your stated risk per trade, expressed as a percentage of your total portfolio.

Can you give a practical example?

You buy shares at LKR 50 and set a 10% stop-loss at LKR 45. If the stock falls to LKR 45, you sell regardless of your fundamental view, limiting your loss to approximately 10%.