Why do market orders carry execution risks?

Why do market orders carry execution risks?

Market orders execute at the best available price but may result in unfavourable execution due to:
  • Price fluctuations – Rapid market movements can lead to unexpected execution prices.
  • Low liquidity – If an asset has low trading volume, the order may fill across multiple price levels, causing slippage.
  • Bid-ask spread – A wide gap between buy and sell prices can result in higher-than-expected costs.
To reduce these risks:
  • Use limit orders to control execution prices.
  • Avoid market orders during high volatility periods (e.g., market opening/closing, news events).
  • Check the bid-ask spread before placing an order.