Open Position
Last reviewed: September 2, 2026
An open position is a market position that has been entered but has not yet been closed. Its value can continue to rise or fall as the market price changes.
Reviewed September 2026
Long open position
If you buy shares and still own them, you have an open long position. The position remains open until you sell the shares or otherwise close the exposure.
Short open position
If you sell short and have not yet bought the security back, you have an open short position. The trade is closed when you cover the short position.
Simple example
You buy 100 shares at $25. Until you sell those shares, you have an open position of 100 shares. If the price rises to $28, the position has an unrealized gain; if it falls to $22, it has an unrealized loss.
Other markets
The same term is used in options, futures and foreign exchange. The details of closing a position vary by market, but the basic idea is the same: exposure remains until the trade is offset, exercised, assigned, expires or is otherwise closed.