IOC in Share Market

IOC stands for Immediate or Cancel Order. It is a retention order type that is used to fix the time duration of the order. The time duration for IOC Order is “IMMEDIATE or CANCEL.” So when you place an IOC Order, the order will either execute or get canceled immediately in milliseconds.

Contents:

• IOC Full Form In Share Market
• Type of IOC Orders
• Difference between Day and IOC
• Difference between GTC and IOC
• When to place an IOC Order Type?
• IOC in share market – Quick Summary
• IOC Full Form In Share Market – FAQs

IOC Full Form In Share Market

In the context of the share market, IOC stands for Immediate or Cancel. An IOC order is one where the order, or a portion, is filled as soon as it is placed. If the entire order isn’t fulfilled, the unfilled portion is immediately canceled.

To illustrate, consider an example where a trader places an IOC order to buy 100 shares of Infosys at ₹1500 each. If only 80 shares are available at that price when the order is placed, those 80 shares will be bought, and the order for the remaining 20 shares will be canceled immediately.

Type of IOC Orders

In the stock market, IOC orders can be broadly categorized into two types: limit IOC orders and market IOC orders. Limit IOC orders are executed at a specific price or better, while market IOC orders are executed at the current market price.

1. Limit IOC Orders: Here, an investor specifies the price at which they want the order to be executed. If the stock hits this price, the order is filled; otherwise, it’s canceled. For example, an investor might place a limit IOC order to buy 50 shares of TCS at ₹2200. If the shares are available at this price, the order is executed; if not, the order is canceled.

2. Market IOC Orders: In this type, the investor doesn’t specify a price. Instead, the order is executed at the best price currently available in the market. For instance, if an investor places a market IOC order to sell 100 shares of Reliance Industries, the order will be executed at the best price obtainable when the order is placed.

Difference between Day and IOC

The main difference lies in their duration and execution. Day orders are active for the entire trading day, whereas IOC orders are executed instantly or canceled.

Consider a day order example where a trader places an order to buy 200 shares of HDFC Bank at a specific price at the start of the day. This order stays active till the end of the trading day, and it may be partially or fully filled as and when shares become available at the specified price.

On the other hand, an investor places an IOC order to buy 200 shares of HDFC Bank at a specific price. If only 100 shares are available at that price when the order is placed, those 100 shares are bought, and the order for the remaining 100 shares is canceled immediately.

Difference between GTC and IOC

The primary difference is that GTC orders remain active until manually canceled, whereas IOC orders are executed immediately or they are canceled.

For example, suppose a trader places a GTC order to buy 500 shares of Maruti Suzuki at ₹7000 per share. This order remains active across multiple trading sessions until it is fully filled or manually canceled by the trader. In contrast, if the same trader places an IOC order for 500 shares of Maruti Suzuki at ₹7000 per share, and only 300 shares are available at that price when the order is placed, those 300 shares are bought, and the order for the remaining 200 shares is canceled immediately.

When to Place an IOC Order Type?

Immediate or Cancel (IOC) orders are best utilized in specific scenarios where the investor needs immediate execution. They are particularly useful when there is high volatility in the market or when one is aiming to take advantage of quick market movements.

In stock trading, timing is often as critical as price. For example, a trader who identifies a rapid upward movement in the share price of Infosys might decide to purchase the stock quickly before it rises further. In such a case, an IOC order could be the best choice. 

The trader can set the order at the current market price or a slightly higher limit price. If the order is immediately executable, it will be filled, capturing the advantage of the quick market movement. If not, it will be canceled, allowing the trader to reassess the market situation and possibly place a new order.

IOC in share market – Quick Summary

• The full form of IOC in the share market is Immediate or Cancel. It provides traders with faster trade execution and prevents prolonged waiting periods.
• IOC orders come in different types, like limit or market orders, offering traders flexibility based on their trading strategy.
• Day and IOC orders differ mainly in their duration and execution – Day orders last the entire trading day, while IOC orders must be executed instantly or they are canceled.
• GTC and IOC orders differ in validity – GTC orders remain active until manually canceled, whereas IOC orders are immediately executed or canceled.
• IOC orders are placed when immediate execution is necessary, often beneficial in volatile markets or to capture quick market movements.
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IOC Full Form In Share Market – FAQs  

1. What is IOC in the share market?

IOC or Immediate or Cancel is an order type in the share market that mandates the immediate execution of the order, or else it gets canceled.

2. What is validity day or IOC?

Validity Day and IOC refer to the duration of orders. A Day order remains active for the entire trading day, while an IOC order must be executed immediately or is canceled.

3. What is the benefit of IOC share?

IOC orders benefit traders by providing immediate execution, which is beneficial in high-volatility situations or when quick market movements need to be capitalized upon.

4. Is IOC good for intraday?

Yes, IOC can benefit intraday trading, especially when the market is highly volatile, or the trader wants to take advantage of quick price movements.

5. What is IOC limit order?

An IOC limit order is an IOC order where the order is executed immediately at a specified price, or else it gets canceled.