Glossary - S

Trading terms that begin with the letter S

Scalpers
_{What Does Scalpers Mean?}

A person trading in the equities or options and futures market who holds a position for a very short period of time, attempting to make money

Scalping
_{What Does Scalping Mean?}

A trading strategy that attempts to make many profits on small price changes. Traders who implement this strategy will place anywhere from 10 to a couple hundred trades in a single day in the belief that small moves in stock price are easier to catch than large ones.

Slippage
_{What Does Slippage Mean?}

The difference between the expected price of a trade, and the price the trade actually executes at. Slippage often occurs during periods of higher volatility, when market orders are used, and also when large orders are executed when there may not be enough interest at the desired price level to maintain the expected price of trade.

Slippage is a term often used in both forex and stock trading, and although the definition is the same for both, slippage occurs in different situations for each of these types of trading.

Spike
_{What Does Spike Mean?}

1. The comparatively large upward or downward movement of a price or value level in a short period.
2. The trade order execution confirmation slip which shows all the pertinent data, such as the stock symbol, price, type and trading account information

Spread
_{What Does Spread Mean?}

1. The difference between the bid and the ask price of a security or asset.
2. An options position established by purchasing one option and selling another option of the same class but of a different series.

Stop-Limit Order
_{What Does Stop-Limit Order Mean?}

An order placed with a broker that combines the features of stop order with those of a limit order. A stop-limit order will be executed at a specified price (or better) after a given stop price has been reached. Once the stop price is reached, the stop-limit order becomes a limit order to buy (or sell) at the limit price or better.

Stop Loss Order
_{What Does Stop-Loss Order Mean?}

An order placed with a broker to sell a security when it reaches a certain price. A stop-loss order is designed to limit an investor's loss on a security position.

Also known as a "stop order" or "stop-market order".

Stop Order
_{What Does Stop Order Mean?}

An order to buy or sell a security when its price surpasses a particular point, thus ensuring a greater probability of achieving a predetermined entry or exit price, limiting the investor's loss or locking in his or her profit. Once the price surpasses the predefined entry/exit point, the stop order becomes a market order.

Also referred to as a "stop" and/or "stop-loss order".

Stopped Out
_{What Does Stopped Out Mean?}

A situation where a stock price decreases and, consequently, an investor's stop order is executed.