
Buy Stops Above and Example
Buy stops above refers to a belief that an asset's price will accelerate upward once it breaks through a level of resistance or key price level. Since the price has surpassed the resistance level, there is likely to be lots of buy stop orders, from both buyers and short-sellers exiting their positions, to help fuel the price higher. If the price moves above the resistance line, the sell limit orders will likely be exhausted and now mostly buy stop orders will remain. Buy stops above is the theory that there is a collection of buy stop orders above a resistance or key price level. If there are in fact lots of buy stop orders (relative to sell orders) above a key level, this buying will help fuel the price higher.

What Are Buy Stops Above?
Buy stops above refers to a belief that an asset's price will accelerate upward once it breaks through a level of resistance or key price level. The acceleration comes from a concentration of buy stop orders. These orders could be placed by people looking to enter long positions if the price breaks above the key level. Buy stop orders are also placed by people in short positions looking to exit if the price moves above the resistance level. In either case, there are likely buy stop orders above the resistance level.



How to Use Buy Stops Above
Buy stops above is based on the technical analysis concepts of support and resistance.
Resistance and support are areas where the price has struggled to move higher or lower, respectively. Both areas are the result of a concentration of limit orders at those prices. At resistance, investors have placed a disproportionate number of sell limit orders. At support, a large number of buy orders create a floor for the price.
The buy stops above theory comes into play as the share price approaches resistance. As the price approaches that level, those concentrated sell limit orders will be executed. This tends to send the price back below resistance. If the price can survive that wave of selling, it will continue upward above resistance. If the price moves above the resistance line, the sell limit orders will likely be exhausted and now mostly buy stop orders will remain.
A buy stop order is used to buy when the price moves above a specific price. Short traders use them to exit their short positions. Buyers use them to enter as the price surpasses key levels. Since the price has surpassed the resistance level, there is likely to be lots of buy stop orders, from both buyers and short-sellers exiting their positions, to help fuel the price higher.
Price Movement Following a Resistance Breakout
Once the price has moved above resistance, it is called a breakout. In a self-fulfilling prophecy, many traders buy breakouts above resistance, because they believe other people will as well. Hence the belief there are lots of buy stop orders above resistance.
In reality, this isn't always the case. A price move above resistance can also result in a false breakout. That is when the price moves above resistance, but there is not enough buying interest to keep the price up there. Instead, more sellers come back in, pushing the price back below resistance.
Example of How to Use Buy Stops Above
The buy stops above theory is most likely to be accurate when the price of the asset is already in an uptrend. The uptrend means buyers are stronger than sellers already. If the price can break through resistance, this may result in even more buyers in the short-term, helping to fuel the price higher.
Tesla Inc. (TSLA) was already in an uptrend when it broke above resistance near $1,000. This round dollar number is also likely to draw in additional interest.
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After moving above the resistance level, the buy stops kicked in and the price accelerated to the upside. The buy would also be fueled by buy limit and buy market orders.
If there is a collection of buy stop orders above a resistance level, this will typically be confirmed by an increase in volume. Each of the breakouts shown on the chart was on increased volume relative to recent volume.
The Difference Between a Buy Stop and a Sell Stop
A buy stop order buys when the price moves above a specified point. A sell stop order sells or shorts when the price drops below a specified level. Sell stops below refers to a potential collection of sell stop orders below a support level.
The Limitations of Using Buy Stops Above
Traders don't actually know if there are lots of buy stops above a resistance level. They can only guess or estimate that there is.
Buy stops above is related to technical analysis and resistance, but not all price movement is technical in nature. Investors may buy an asset not because it broke above resistance but because the company or industry has positive news or sentiment surrounding it.
As discussed, there are not always enough buy stop orders above resistance levels to keep pushing the price higher. The price may fall, in which case technical traders use a stop loss to help limit their risk of loss.
Related terms:
Above the Market
"Above the market" refers to an order to buy or sell at a price higher than the current market price. read more
Breakout and Example
A breakout is the movement of the price of an asset through an identified level of support or resistance. Breakouts are used by some traders to signal a buying or selling opportunity. read more
Buy Stop Order
A buy stop order directs to an order in which a market buy order is placed on a security once it hits a pre-determined strike price. read more
Consolidation
Consolidation is a technical analysis term referring to security prices oscillating within a corridor and is generally interpreted as market indecisiveness. read more
Failed Break and Example
A failed break occurs when a price moves through an identified level of support or resistance but does not have enough momentum to maintain its direction. read more
Limit Order
A limit order is used to buy or sell a security at a pre-determined price and will not execute unless the security's price meets those qualifications. read more
Long Position
A long position conveys bullish intent as an investor will purchase the security with the hope that it will increase in value. read more
Market Order
A market order is an instruction to a broker to buy or sell a stock or other asset immediately at the best available current price. read more
Range-Bound Trading
Range-bound trading is a trading strategy that seeks to identify and capitalize on securities trading in price channels. read more