Why is my stop not where I expected?

Distances follow the fill. Levels do not.

  • A stop written as a distance (25 pips, atr(14) * 2, 2R) is measured from the actual fill price. If the entry fills 8 pips higher after a gap, the stop is 8 pips higher too (E9).
  • A stop written as a level (low[1], 1.0850) stays exactly where you put it. If a gap makes it invalid, for example a long stop at or above the fill, the order is cancelled and recorded as “stop beyond entry” (E10).
  • breakeven and trail move stops during the trade, and a trailing stop only ever tightens (E13, E14).

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