TFEX (Thailand Futures Exchange) offers futures and options whose value is linked to an underlying asset, such as the SET50 Index, gold, oil, or individual shares. Futures use leverage: a smaller initial margin can control a larger contract exposure, which can magnify both gains and losses. Long positions are taken when a trader expects a price rise; Short positions are taken when a trader expects a decline. Liquidity varies by contract and market conditions.
What Auto Position does
Auto Position is a feature available on some TFEX trading platforms that lets a user set order conditions in advance. Depending on the broker and platform, settings may include an entry, take-profit, stop-loss, or rollover instruction. The system acts when its configured conditions are met, but the exact behavior and available order types vary. Automation does not make a strategy accurate or guarantee an execution price.
Example settings
S50M24 is a historical example of a SET50 Index Futures contract for June 2024. Illustrative rules could be: enter Long if the price moves above 850 points, or Short if it falls below 840; for the Long example, take profit at 860 and set a stop at 845. These are examples of how conditions can be expressed, not current market levels or trade recommendations.
- Trailing stop: a platform may move a stop level as the market moves in a favorable direction. How this works depends on the platform.
- Quantity: specify the number of contracts and check the exposure before confirming.
- Order duration: an order may be a Day Order or remain active until cancelled (Good Till Cancel, or GTC), depending on the available settings and terms.
Review every condition before confirming. If available, test the settings in a paper-trading or simulation mode first and learn how the platform handles unfilled orders, cancellations, and expiry.
Potential benefits—and their limits
Predefined instructions can reduce the need to enter each order manually and may help a trader follow a chosen process. They do not remove emotion from decision-making, guarantee faster or better execution, or ensure that a stop-loss or take-profit will behave as expected in every market condition. An automated order still relies on the rules and settings supplied by the user.
Risks to consider
- System or connection problems: a computer, platform, or internet outage may prevent an order from being sent or a position from being closed as intended.
- Rigid rules: a system may not respond to unexpected news or market conditions that were not included in its settings.
- Incorrect settings: a wrong price, quantity, or condition can cause an unintended order or loss.
- Over-reliance: leaving a system unattended without understanding its behavior can make it harder to respond when something goes wrong.
- Over-optimization: tuning a strategy to fit historical prices can produce results that do not carry over to live markets.
Plan and test before using real money
Auto Position can only follow a strategy that has clear, testable rules. Examples of strategy types include trend following, mean reversion, and breakouts; naming a method does not show that it will work. Backtesting can show how rules would have behaved on historical data, while forward testing or paper trading can help reveal how they operate in a simulated current setting. Neither test guarantees future results.
Risk management remains the trader’s responsibility. Consider contract size, the maximum amount you can afford to lose, a stop level that fits the plan, and the possibility of losses across related positions. The 1–2% figure is an example risk-per-trade limit, not a universal rule or personal recommendation. Review the strategy regularly because market conditions can change.
Check your broker’s platform
Auto Position availability, fees, order behavior, and support depend on the broker and its software. Check directly with your broker whether the feature is available, whether there is an additional fee, how long orders remain active, and what happens if the system disconnects. Review the platform’s stability, controls, ease of use, and support before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Who might Auto Position suit?
It may suit traders who want to automate order entry or exit conditions and already have a clear TFEX strategy and risk plan, including some day-trading or scalping approaches. This is not a recommendation; automated orders can still lose money.
Does every TFEX broker offer Auto Position?
Availability depends on the broker and platform. Ask your broker whether the feature is available on your account before relying on it.
What happens if the price does not reach the condition I set?
The order may remain pending until the condition is met, you cancel it, or it expires under the platform’s rules. Check the specific order duration and cancellation behavior with your broker.
Does Auto Position cost extra?
The feature may be included without a separate fee on some platforms, but charges vary. Confirm current fees with your broker.
Does Auto Position reduce TFEX trading risk?
It may help some users follow predefined rules, but it does not reduce market volatility or remove the risk of loss. Position sizing, stop settings, and money management remain important, and system or execution problems can add risk.
Auto Position is an order-management tool, not a substitute for understanding the strategy or monitoring risk. This article is for general education and is not investment advice. Futures are leveraged and can result in losses.