2% Rule: Definition as Investing Strategy, With Examples (2024)

What Is the 2% Rule?

The 2% rule is an investing strategy where an investor risks no more than 2% of their available capital on any single trade. To implement the 2% rule,theinvestor first must calculate what 2% of their available trading capital is: this is referred to as the capital at risk (CaR). Brokerage fees for buying and selling shares should be factored into the calculation in order to determine the maximum permissible amount of capital to risk. The maximum permissible risk is then divided by the stop-loss amount to determine the number of shares that can be purchased.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2% rule is an investing strategy where an investor risks no more than 2% of their available capital on any single trade.
  • To apply the 2% rule, an investor must first determine their available capital, taking into account any future fees or commissions that may arise from trading.
  • Stop-loss orders can be implemented to maintain the 2% rule risk threshold as market conditions change.

How the 2% Rule Works

The 2% rule is a restriction that investors impose on their trading activities in order to stay within specified risk management parameters. For example, an investor who uses the 2% rule and has a $100,000 trading account, risks no more than $2,000–or 2% of the value of the account–on a particular investment. By knowing what percentage of investment capital may be risked, the investor can workbackward to determine the total number of shares topurchase. The investorcan also use stop-loss orders to limit downside risk.

In the event that market conditions change, an investor may implement a stop order to limit their downside exposure to a loss that only represents 2% of their total trading capital. Even if a trader experiences ten consecutive losses, using this investment strategy, theywill only draw their account down by 20%. The 2% rule can be used in combination with other risk management strategies to help preserve a trader’s capital. For instance, an investor may stop trading for the month if the maximum permissible amount of capital they are willing to risk has been met.

Using the 2% Rule with a Stop Loss Order

Suppose that a trader has a $50,000 trading account and wants to trade Apple, Inc. (AAPL). Using the 2% rule, the trader can risk $1,000 of capital ($50,000 x 0.02%). If AAPL is trading at $170 and the trader wants to use a $15 stop loss, they can buy 67 shares ($1,000 / $15).If there is a $25 round-turn commission charge, the trader can buy 65 shares ($975 / $15).

In practice, traders must also consider slippage costs and gap risk. These can result in events that make the potential for loss significantly greater than 2%. For instance, if the trader held the AAPL position overnight and it opened at $140 the following day after an earnings announcement, this would result in a 4% loss ($1,000 / $30).

2% Rule: Definition as Investing Strategy, With Examples (2024)

FAQs

What is the 2 percent strategy? ›

One popular method is the 2% Rule, which means you never put more than 2% of your account equity at risk (Table 1). For example, if you are trading a $50,000 account, and you choose a risk management stop loss of 2%, you could risk up to $1,000 on any given trade.

What is the 2% rule in trading? ›

What Is the 2% Rule? The 2% rule is an investing strategy where an investor risks no more than 2% of their available capital on any single trade. To implement the 2% rule, the investor first must calculate what 2% of their available trading capital is: this is referred to as the capital at risk (CaR).

How do you calculate the 2% rule? ›

To calculate the 2% rule for a rental property you just need to know the property's price. You could then take that number and multiply it by 0.02. For example, say your budget for purchasing an investment property is $175,000. If you multiply $175,000 by 0.02, you'd get $3,500.

What is the maximum 2% loss per trade? ›

For example, suppose a trader has a trading account with a capital of $10,000. Abiding by the 2% rule, the maximum amount that can be lost on any single trade is $200 ($10,000 x 2%).

How do you get 2 percent? ›

To find the value of 2 percent of something, we can either divide it by 100 and multiply it by 2, or we can divide it by 50. This is because percentages are out of 100, meaning that the value of 1% is the same as dividing it by 100.

What is the 1% trading strategy? ›

Let's look at the 1% risk rule with the example:

Let's say you have $60,000 to invest. Buying an asset for $300 does not mean that you can only buy 2 of them (60.000*0.01 = 600, 600/300=2). Agreeing with the rule you just have to close your position if the loss exceeds 1% (in our case it is $300).

What is the 2% rule in swing trading? ›

Additionally, there are golden rules in the swing trading game. There is a 2% rule that says one should never put more than 2% of account equity at risk. On the other hand, there is a 1% rule that says the loss on a single trade should not exceed more than 1% of your total capital.

What is the golden rule of traders? ›

Let profits run and cut losses short Stop losses should never be moved away from the market. Be disciplined with yourself, when your stop loss level is touched, get out. If a trade is proving profitable, don't be afraid to track the market.

What is the 3% rule in trading? ›

3% Rule: This suggests risking no more than 3% of your trading capital on any single trade. This helps limit the potential loss from any one trade and protects your overall capital. 5% Rule: This rule applies to the total risk exposure across all your open trades.

Is the 2% rule realistic? ›

It's not an accurate metric of a potential investment's performance. Think of any “percent rule” as a guideline for further exploration. It's important to note that while real estate investing has many significant advantages for building passive income, cash flow is key to your success.

What is the cap rate 2% rule? ›

This is a general rule of thumb that determines a base level of rental income a rental property should generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a gross yield from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

What is 2 percent equity? ›

50 lakhs in 2% equity means that the investor has purchased 2% of the company's equity for 50 lakhs (or 5 million) rupees. This equity represents a share of ownership in the company, entitling the investor to a portion of the company's profits, assets and voting rights.

How do you calculate 2% risk in trading? ›

Example: 2% Rule

Imagine that your total share trading capital is $20,000 and your brokerage costs are fixed at $50 per trade. Your Capital at Risk is: $20,000 * 2 percent = $400 per trade.

Can I risk 2% per trade? ›

Risk per trade should always be a small percentage of your total capital. A good starting percentage could be 2% of your available trading capital. So, for example, if you have $5000 in your account, the maximum loss allowable should be no more than 2%.

What is the rule of 2 in trading? ›

2% rule: Don't risk more than 2% of your account equity on any one trade. The goal of trading, in general, is to make money, right? But in order to make money, you need trading capital.

What is a two way strategy in trading? ›

A two-way quote involves a bid-ask spread, or the difference between the highest price that a buyer is willing to pay for an asset and the lowest price that a seller is willing to accept. An individual looking to sell will receive the bid price while one looking to buy will pay the ask price.

What is the one two trading strategy? ›

The One-Two trading strategy is based on the signals of a popular trend indicator Bollinger Bands with different parameters. The strategy is based on reversals of the quotes from the borders of the price channel that are used as dynamic support/resistance levels.

What is the 3 second trading strategy? ›

The 3 Second Bitcoin Flip Trade is a fast trading strategy by Jeff Clark. It uses changes in Bitcoin prices to make quick profits without owning actual bitcoins. This strategy uses options trading, which bets on whether an asset's price will rise or fall.

What is the 1 3 2 strategy? ›

The 1-3-2 structure supposedly appears as a tree. The strategy profits from a small increase in the price of the underlying asset and maxes when the underlying closes at the middle option strike price at options expiration. Maximum profit equals middle strike minus lower strike minus the premium.

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