what is day and IOC in trading?

The Indian stock exchange (BSE and NSE) is one of the largest stock markets in the world, where thousands of orders are placed every minute. There are various types of orders which can be placed for any share. Here we will discuss what is Day and IOC in trading.

Day Order Meaning

When entering a day order, the trader instructs the broker to purchase or sell a security at a specified value during market hours. The day order expires unless the stock the trader has put in order to buy reaches the specified price by the end of the trading day. An order placed is a day order until specified differently by the trader.

Example

If a trader wants to buy 100 shares of SBI at ₹500 but the price at which the market opened was ₹520, and it did not reach the ₹500 mark all the trading day. So, when the market closes, the order is cancelled at the closing time of the market. 

Pros of Day Order

Day order can be helpful for traders after setting the price at which they want to purchase or sell a share do not have to monitor the price constantly and as and when the price reaches the specified level the order of buy or sell is automatically placed.

Cons of Day Order

Day order can be successful only if the trader knows the ins and outs of the market and is an expert on how the market works. It is also necessary to be updated on the latest news, which may affect the market during the trading day.

IOC Order Meaning

Immediate or Cancel order is one of the orders that can be placed in the stock market. In this order, the trader buys a security in full or part, whichever amount is available, while the rest of the unfilled portion gets cancelled immediately. It is specified in the order that it should be executed as and when the order hits the market. 

The IOC orders can be set up as limit or market orders, and traders usually use them when the market is volatile. 

Example 

If the trader wants to buy 500 shares of ₹100 of a company, but after entering the order, only 300 shares are available at that price, then they will be purchased while the rest order of 200 shares will be cancelled. 

Pros of IOC Order

An Immediate or Cancel order can be helpful to traders who have multiple orders running simultaneously and don’t have enough time to watch the market prices of each of them. With the use of an IOC order, the shares can be purchased or sold quickly. There is not much delay between when the order is placed and when it is executed.

Cons of IOC Order

When an IOC order is placed if the shares are not available to buy or sell at the specified price immediately the order gets cancelled. It may not be good for the traders if they do not track the prices regularly. If the share price does reach the level specified by the trader after some time and he misses the opportunity, he might incur losses for the unfilled portion of his stocks.

What is the difference between Day and IOC Order in trading?

The difference between the Day order and the IOC order is at the time of the execution of the order. The IOC order is carried on immediately by purchasing the number of available shares at that time and cancelling the rest of the shares. In contrast, in day trading, the order, if completed after a period of time, is valid till the end of the trading day.

Wrapping up

These two types of orders can be placed in the market. Both have advantages, and a trader needs to decide which type of order will suit him best. The Day and IOC orders are similar, with the difference in the waiting time for the order to be executed. 

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