How is the Trend Identified?
To identify a trend, traders use both fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis means looking at a company’s health, performance, and future. Technical analysis means studying past price movements and charts to spot clear upward or downward directions.
Traders also check bigger economic factors like interest rates, policies, or industry-specific growth. For example, renewable energy or seasonal industries like farming can show long-lasting trends. By combining all these, traders decide where to invest.
Some common techniques are:
Support and Resistance:
Support is the lowest price a stock usually falls to, while resistance is the highest price it normally reaches. Traders study past price charts to mark these levels. When prices break either support or resistance, it signals a new trend beginning.
Breakout Strategy:
In this method, traders wait for the price to break important levels before acting. If a stock price rises above its resistance, they buy. If it falls below support, they sell. Breakouts often show the start of a strong market movement.
Range Trading:
When no clear trend exists, traders use range trading. The price keeps moving between fixed upper and lower levels. Traders sell when the stock seems overbought near the top and buy when it looks oversold near the bottom.
How to Trade Using Positional Trading Strategies?
Identify the Trend
Check past price charts and study overall market direction. Spot whether it is rising or falling. Recognising the right trend is the first step in positional trading.
Choose the Right Security
After identifying the market trend, pick a stock that is likely to move in the same direction. A strong and reliable company increases the chances of long-term success.
Set Entry and Exit Points
Plan in advance at what price you will buy and sell the stock. Clear entry and exit levels prevent emotional mistakes and help secure profits or limit losses.
Manage Your Risk
Always set stop-loss orders to avoid heavy losses. Fix a profit target to lock in gains. Good risk management keeps your trading safe and protects your investment capital.
Advantages of Position Trading
Combines Analysis for Reliability
Position trading relies on both technical charts and fundamental company performance. This mix makes decisions stronger and gives traders more confidence while identifying genuine long-term market trends.
No Need for Constant Monitoring
Traders don’t have to check stock prices every hour. Since it is a long-term approach, less screen time reduces stress and allows investors to focus on other tasks.
Lower Risk Than Intraday Trading
Unlike fast-paced day trading, position trading allows more time for analysis. Investors can adjust based on market behaviour, reducing sudden losses and increasing chances of steady profits.
No Short-Term Hedging Required
As it focuses on long-term holding, there’s no need to hedge against daily fluctuations. Investors benefit from broader market growth without worrying about short-lived price movements.
Limitations of Position Trading
Positional trading strategies can also have some potential downsides and risks for traders.
A wrong analysis can lead to significant losses as trades are held for longer periods.Managing multiple positions requires higher capital investment.
Funds remain locked for months or years, creating opportunity costs.
Long-term positions reduce liquidity and limit quick decision-making.
Sudden market swings or unexpected events can still impact overall returns despite careful planning.
Passive Investors vs. Position Traders
Aspect
| Passive Investors
| Position Traders
|
Goal
| Aim for steady long-term returns, often without reacting to short-term market changes.
| Aim to capture profits from medium- to long-term trends in the market.
|
Market Monitoring
| Rarely check the market; focus on overall growth over years.
| Actively monitor positions and market news to adjust trades when needed.
|
Decision Making
| Invests and holds without frequent buying or selling.
| Buys and holds based on identified trends but prepares entry and exit strategies.
|
Holding Period
| Usually hold stocks for years or even decades.
| Hold stocks for weeks, months, or sometimes years depending on the trend.
|
Risk Approach
| Accepts market ups and downs, with little reaction to daily volatility.
| Takes calculated risks, adjusting positions when trends peak or reverse.
|
Focus
| Long-term wealth creation and compounding returns.
| Profit from specific market trends and sector-based opportunities.
|
Additional Read: Swing Trading vs Position Trading
Potential Downsides of Positional Trading
One major drawback of positional trading is capital lock-in, where large sums remain tied up for months or years, limiting flexibility. Another risk comes from market fluctuations, as unexpected events or wrong trend predictions can cause losses over time.
Since trades are held longer, investors face higher exposure to volatility. Additionally, identifying and managing multiple long-term positions requires significant capital and patience, which may not suit all traders, especially those preferring quicker returns.
Addtional Read: Intraday Vs Positional Trading