Fill or Kill Orders

Setting FOK as the time in force dictates that the entire order must execute immediately or be canceled. A trader might see a short-lived opportunity to buy or sell a stock or option that would suit a strategy or fit within a portfolio. However, the time opportunity might be subject to buying or selling a minimum number of shares or options. The fill-or-kill order type is designed to ensure that the investor does not receive a partial fill that would not suit his current appetite. Failure to fill the entire order upon immediate submission to the market causes the system to cancel the order in its entirety.

Products Availability Routing TWS
Options US Products Smart Attribute
Stocks Non-US Products Directed Order Type
Time in Force
Stocks must be directly routed to NYSE.
View Supported Exchanges|Open Users' Guide

Example

Fill or Kill Buy Order

Order Type In Depth - Fill or Kill Buy Order


Step 1 – Enter a Fill or Kill Buy Order

At 10:00 AM Tuesday, you want to place an order to 1000 shares of XYZ stock. You want the entire order to fill right away, otherwise you don't want it. Create the buy order, select an order type from the Type field (in this example, we've chosen a limit order), and select FOK as the time in force. If the entire order does not fill immediately once it is accepted by the market, the entire order is canceled.


Step 2 – Buy Order for 1000 Shares Transmitted

You've transmitted your limit order with the time in force set to Fill or Kill. If the entire order does not fill immediately once it is accepted by the market, the entire order will be canceled.


Step 3 – Order is Filled Immediately

Your limit price and the market price of XYZ are the same, 13.50, when you transmit the order. Your entire order is immediately filled.

Assumptions
Action BUY
Qty 1000
Order Type LMT
Market Price 13.50
Limit Price 13.50
Time in Force FOK
Alternate Scenario – Market Price Moves Away from Limit Price, Order Cannot Be Filled Immediately

In this alternate scenario, the market price of XYZ rises to 13.51, away from your limit price of 13.50. Your entire order cannot be immediately filled so it is canceled.

Assumptions
Action BUY
Qty 1000
Order Type LMT
Market Price 13.51
Limit Price 13.50
Time in Force FOK