Understanding Stop Loss and Drawdown in Forex Trading

Let’s discuss stop loss (SL) and drawdown (DD) in forex trading. In essence, SL and DD refer to the same concept. For example, if you hold a position with a negative 10% drawdown of your portfolio, that represents a loss in your account, but you haven’t yet executed a stop loss.

An SL is when you take that loss out of your account to prevent further losses beyond what you can handle in each trade. Once you make a profit, the funds increase in your portfolio, reducing your drawdown. SL is crucial in forex trading as it limits your losses and helps you find better entry points for future trades.

Holding onto a position without setting an SL can increase your losses further, leading to higher negative balances. In contrast, executing an SL stops the loss and keeps your account balanced. Think of SL as a way to manage and minimize losses, while not having an SL may lead to unchecked losses.

For example, if you have $1,000 in capital and take a $100 loss with an SL, your remaining balance is $900, which means you have a 10% drawdown. This is similar to holding onto a losing position without using an SL, but the former approach is more controlled and measured. Don’t fear using an SL—it’s there to protect your account and give you opportunities to trade profitably in the future.