Definition

A buy order is a request placed by an investor to purchase a specific quantity of a financial security.  

A financial instrument like stocks or bonds, at a specified price or at the best available price in the market offers financial security.

Description

An order to acquire an asset at or below a given price that gives traders control over their payment is known as a buy limit order. Using a limit order ensures that the investor will pay that amount or less when making a transaction.

The order being filled is not guaranteed, but the price is. Ultimately, a buy limit order will not be filled unless the asking price exceeds the designated limit price. The order is not filled and the investor may lose out on the trading opportunity if the asset does not reach the designated price.

If an investor expects the price of an asset to decline, then a buy limit order is a reasonable order to use. If the investor doesn't mind paying the current price, or higher, a market order to buy stop limit order is the better bet if the asset starts to move up.

Importance of limit buy order

Here are five reasons highlighting the importance of using limit buy orders:

1. Price Control: Investors can set a maximum price for a share by using limit buy orders. Investors can prevent overpaying for an asset by controlling the price at which they enter a position by setting a limit.
2. Seize Opportunities: Prices can change drastically in marketplaces that move quickly. By automatically executing trades if the price of the share drops to the designated limit, limit buy orders enable investors to take advantage of possibly reduced pricing.
3. Avoiding Emotional Decisions: By using a limit buy order to set a fixed price, investors can avoid making hasty decisions based on unpredictable short-term market swings. It enables them to adhere to their investment plan and prevents them from making hasty purchases at low costs.
4. Risk Management: Limit buy orders to mitigate risk from unforeseen price increases or decreases. By entering positions at advantageous prices, investors can lower their chance of making inflated purchases.
5. Preventing Missed Opportunities: Investors should make sure they don't miss out on any buying opportunities by limiting buy orders, particularly in volatile markets where prices might move swiftly up or down. This aids investors in maintaining discipline and making profitable trades in the market.

How to place a buy limit order?

These are the steps to place a buy limit order:

1. Log In to Your Brokerage Account: Start by accessing your brokerage account through the brokerage's website or mobile app. Enter your login credentials to securely log in. It is very common that you do not have to share the credentials with anyone.
2. Navigate to the Trading Platform: Once logged in, navigate to the trading platform or section of the brokerage interface where you can place orders. This section is typically labelled as "Trade," "Buy/Sell," or "Trading."
3. Select the Security: From the list of available securities, you can choose the specific security (e.g., stock, ETF, bond) you want to purchase. You can search for the security by its ticker symbol or name.
4. Choose "Buy" and "Limit Order": Within the trading platform, you can select the option to place a "Buy" order. Then, specify that you want to establish a "Limit Order." This ensures that you're setting a maximum price you're willing to pay for the security.
5. Enter Quantity: Input the quantity of shares or units of the security you wish to purchase. Ensure that the quantity entered aligns with your investment strategy and available funds.
6. Set Limit Order: To set the limit order, determine the maximum price per share or unit you will pay for the security. Enter this price in the designated field. Ensure the limit order is lower than or equal to the current market price if you want the order to execute immediately once it reaches your limit.
7. Review and Confirm: Double-check all order details, including the security, quantity, and limit price. Ensure they align with your intentions and investment strategy. Once satisfied, review any associated fees or commissions, then confirm the order to submit it to the market.
8. Monitor the Order: After confirming the buy limit order, you can monitor its status regularly through your brokerage account. The order will automatically execute if the security price reaches or drops below your specified limit price. If the order remains open, it will continue to be active until it executes or is cancelled.

Trends that can affect the buy limit order

These are the trends that can affect the buy limit order:

Here are four trends that can affect the execution of a buy-limit order:

1. Market Volatility: Variations in market volatility may affect how purchase limit orders are executed. Prices may change quickly during extreme volatility, pushing the market price away from the designated limit price. If the market price does not hit the limit price during the order's validity period, this could lead to buying limit orders not being acknowledged.
2. Liquidity Levels: Liquidity is the ease with which a security can be purchased or sold in the market without significantly altering its price. To match buy-limit orders at the defined limit price, more buyers or sellers can be required in sluggish markets or for minimally traded assets. Buy limit orders take longer to execute and may not be filled.
3. Market Sentiment: The willingness of market players to purchase or sell assets can be impacted by market sentiment. And market sentiments can be influenced by variables like investor attitude, geopolitical events, and the publication of economic data. Buy-limit orders are more likely to be completed, and prices may rise due to increased buying activity brought on by positive sentiment. On the other hand, unfavourable attitudes could reduce demand for purchases and restrict the fulfilment of buy-limit orders.
4. Price Movements: The execution of purchase limit orders may be directly impacted by changes in the market price of the security. For a purchase limit order, if the market price climbs over the designated limit price, the order might be completed when the price drops back to the limit price. On the other hand, the purchase limit order will be activated and executed at or below the designated limit price if the market price drops and approaches the limit price.

Example

Let's say an investor, Amit, wants to buy shares of ABC Corporation. The current market price of ABC stock is Rs. 50 per share, but Amit believes that the stock is overvalued at this price. He decides he is willing to purchase the stock only if its price drops to Rs. 45 per share or lower.

Amit then places a buy-limit order with the following details:

• Security: ABC Corporation (Ticker: ABC)
• Quantity: 50 shares
• Limit Price: Rs. 45 per share

Once Amit submits the buy limit order, his brokerage will monitor the market for ABC stock. If ABC stock prices fall to Rs. 45 per share or below, Amit's buy limit order will be triggered. The brokerage will then attempt to execute the order by purchasing 50 shares of ABC stock at or below the specified limit price of Rs. 45 per share.

If the market price of ABC stock does not reach Rs.45 per share or lower, the buy limit order will remain open until it executes at the specified limit price or is cancelled by Amit.

FAQ

What is a buy order?

A buy order is an instruction given by an investor to purchase a specific quantity of a security, such as stocks or bonds, at the prevailing market price.

What is a buy-limit order?

In a buy limit order, an investor specifies a maximum price like limit price. And these investors are willing to pay for security. The order will only be executed if the market price falls to or below the specified limit price.

What's the difference between a buy-limit order and a limit-buy order?

Both terms, buy limit order and limit buy order, refer to the same type of order: an order to purchase a security at a specified limit price or better. They are used interchangeably in financial markets.

How does a buy-and-sell trade work?

A buy-and-sell trade involves an investor purchasing a security (buy order) and then selling it (sell order) to potentially profit from the difference between the buying and selling prices. This type of trade is expected in stock and bond markets and other financial markets.

" rows="10">