Position Trading – Definition, Example

Position trading is a trading strategy in which a trading position is held for an extended period (usually weeks or months) to profit. In position trading, a trader usually has long-term thinking and holds the position for an extended period, irrespective of short-term fluctuations. For example, the positions could be long (buying the asset first) and short (selling it later) (selling the asset first). This type of trading is also recognized as trend following, and traders generally introduce trading positions using long-term charts (weekly, monthly).

Positions can be held for months or even years on average. Position traders, by definition, are trend followers and are less concerned with short-term fluctuations unless they influence the long-term outlook of their position. Most position traders do not trade actively and are outperformed in terms of holding time by long-term buy-and-hold and hold investors.

When making decisions, position traders typically use a combination of technical and fundamental analysis, but they also consider market trends and historical patterns. Position traders who can successfully identify the right entry and exit points and know when to place a stop-loss order are considered good position traders.

3 strategies in position trading

Position trading is the most related trading strategy to traditional investment. Position traders profit from long-term price movements and, as a result, prefer markets with well-defined trends and narrow price ranges to markets with high fluctuation and wider trading ranges.

Technical Strategy

A technical strategy relies primarily on charts to anticipate the long-term trend of an asset’s price. Generally, it evaluates the asset’s cost, quantity, and relative strength, and trades are initiated when the asset price demonstrates long-term trend behavior. This trading is purely price-driven and does not take advantage of fundamental factors. A technical strategy relies solely on charts to determine the long-term trend of an asset’s price. Price fluctuations are the most common application of technical analysis, but some analysts also supervise other performance measures such as trade volume or open interest levels. Fundamental considerations are overlooked in this trade, solely driven by market conditions.

Fundamental Strategy

A fundamental strategy focuses on the underlying variables that influence the price of an asset. The strategy only considers qualitative factors and seeks a structural shift in business fundamentals. The fundamental analysis uses publicly available data to determine the value of a stock or other type of investment. Fundamental analysis considers sales, earnings, future growth, return on equity, profit margins, and other factors to determine a company’s underlying worth and potential for future stock growth. All this information can be found in a corporation’s financial statements. To determine a stock’s fair market value, analysts frequently assess the economy’s overall health, followed by the competitiveness of the industry in question.

Techno fundamental Strategy

A fundamental techno strategy enables trading decisions based on technical and fundamental analysis. It employs charts to examine price behavior and fundamentals in order to evaluate long-term qualitative change. The trade is implemented if the price is aligned with the change in fundamentals. These strategies usually implement technical and fundamental screeners to help find qualified trading bets. While developing strategies, traders can generate entry and exit rules as well as stop-loss rules. When starting to trade, traders should also consider their capital base and market experience.

Positional traders sometimes use capital allocation rules and stop losses to maintain risk and prevent losing everything during unpredictable market conditions.

Risk factors in position trading

  • Position trading can result in massive losses if the trader is unable to predict a sudden shift in trend.
  • In the case of a sudden decrease in asset prices, leveraged trades can wipe out the trader’s entire capital.
  • Some traders do not think about investment portfolio rules, which can cost them a lot of money if they put all their cards in one show.
  • Many traders get swept away during prolonged market runs and fail to trim their positions despite multiple warning signs. It tends to put their capital at higher risk.

Advantages of position trading

  • Traders will experience less stress and effort as positions can be monitored more passively.
  • Implementing a long-term trading strategy to maximize profits margins
  • More time is available for other (investment and non-investment) activities than with labor-intensive and time-consuming trading methods.
  • Technical and fundamental analysis can help to reduce risks.
  • Lower risk than day trading and swing trading because investors are less concerned with sudden, short-term price fluctuations.
  • Most large asset moves occur overnight, and positional trading can capture these movements.
  • The accessibility of leverage is beneficial in leverage trading because the asset can be utilized as collateral.
  • Positional trading necessarily requires less constant participation on the part of the trader than swing or day trading.

Disadvantages of position trading

  • If trends reverse, there is a greater chance that substantial losses.
  • Significant capital is required to get started and keep investments running for long periods of time. 
  • Short-term access to funds is limited.
  • Position trading performs effectively in up and down-trending markets. In a sideways market, it is inconceivable to generate revenue from positional trades.
  • Analyzing data and asset fundamentals takes precision skills; newcomers may want to take guidance from a position trading firm. 
  • The costs of holding positions for a prolonged period of time can start reducing profit margins.
  • Position trading necessitates long-term capital, which is not the case with other trading strategies. 
  • It helps secure the trader’s capital and demonstrates him to liquidity risks.

Conclusion

Trading is a high-risk activity, and before achieving massive market success, traders must train and test themselves. Position trading is similar. To learn position trading, one must spend a substantial amount of time monitoring, comprehension, and comprehending market movements. Evaluating past data and identifying patterns is the most effective method for learning position trading. Once a trader understands market patterns, identifying and executing trading strategies while strict adherence to sound risk management principles becomes relatively simple.

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