How to short sell stocks? How to seize profit opportunities during a market decline? Master these five key tips to get started easily.

Understanding Short Selling Stocks: A Contrarian Trading Approach

Many novice investors entering the stock market habitually believe that “buying rising stocks is the way to make money.” However, in reality, the financial markets operate on an opposite logic—when stock prices fall, smart investors profit through short selling (shorting, going short, selling short).

The core concept of short selling is simple: anticipate that the stock price will decline, so sell first and buy later to profit from the price difference. Unlike traditional long buying, short sellers start without owning the asset, so they need to borrow stocks via margin loans from brokers to sell first, then buy back to close the position after the price drops, pocketing the difference as profit.

This method is not limited to the stock market. Forex, commodities, precious metals, and all financial products can be shorted. Investors can utilize financial instruments such as margin loans, futures, options, and contracts for difference (CFDs) to implement short selling strategies.

A special reminder: although short selling can generate considerable short-term gains, it is inherently a high-risk strategy. Most short sellers are not aiming for high profits but are engaging in risk hedging. Theoretically, stock prices can fall to zero (limited profit), but the upside potential is unlimited (unlimited risk of loss). This is the characteristic of “limited profit, unlimited risk” in short selling.

How to buy long: eligibility and account opening requirements

Taiwan Stock Market Margin Short Selling Threshold

To perform long buying in Taiwan’s local stock market, you need to open a margin trading account. This involves understanding the differences between two trading modes:

Cash Trading Mode: No leverage. For example, buying 1,000 shares at NT$10 each requires NT$10,000 in capital. Profits depend solely on price movements and transaction fees.

Margin Trading Mode: Margin financing and securities lending. Investors can borrow money or stocks from brokers, but must first deposit a certain percentage of the transaction amount as margin. Short selling falls under this mode.

Conditions for opening a margin trading account:

• Must be a Taiwanese resident aged 20 or above
• Hold a tax residency in the Republic of China
• Account opened for at least three months
• Have completed at least ten transactions in the past year

The challenge with short selling is that stock sources are unstable (not always available to borrow), risk management is difficult (stock prices have no upper limit), and holding costs may accumulate over time.

Futures and CFD as alternatives

Many investors turn to the futures market. Futures inherently have leverage, allowing both long and short operations. However, they have drawbacks such as expiration dates, the need to roll over positions for long-term holdings, which can increase costs, and not all stocks have corresponding futures products.

Contracts for Difference (CFDs) offer a more flexible alternative. CFDs are popular in international markets and have the following advantages:

• Unlimited long and short operations
• Adjustable leverage multiples
• No or very low commissions and fees
• No expiration date
• Wide range of underlying assets (US stocks, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, etc.)

Opening a CFD account generally requires less: being at least 18 years old, passing suitability assessments and KYC procedures. The minimum deposit is usually around $50, with multiple payment options supported.

Core standards for choosing a reliable trading platform

When trading stocks abroad for long positions, platform security is crucial. Key considerations when selecting a broker:

Regulatory credentials and legality Verify whether the platform is officially authorized by the financial regulatory authority of the country where it is registered. Many unregulated platforms lure investors with attractive offers and then run away with funds. Confirming official licensing and regulation significantly reduces capital risk.

Trading costs and variety of instruments

• Are the fee structures transparent and reasonable?
• Are the spreads competitive?
• Does the platform support the trading instruments you need?
• Is the trading hours flexible (24/7 globally vs. specific hours)?
• Are trading tools comprehensive (order types, risk management tools, etc.)?

Platform features and user experience

• Is the trading system stable and fast?
• Does it support multiple devices (mobile app, web, desktop)?
• Is customer service responsive?
• Are demo accounts available for practice?

Risk management features Does the platform offer negative balance protection, automatic stop-loss orders, trailing stops, etc., to prevent investors from suffering excessive losses due to market reversals?

How to choose stocks for short selling: selection logic

Finding the basis for shorting the market

Short selling relies on negative factors driving stock prices down. First, assess the macro environment:

• Central banks in certain regions are tightening policies, leading to currency depreciation
• Specific industries face declining demand, industry cycle peaks
• Global supply chains face structural excess

The US stock market is the best choice for shorting stocks due to ample liquidity, high flexibility, and rich derivatives.

Specific criteria for stock selection

To determine whether a stock is suitable for shorting, evaluate the following:

Signs of deteriorating fundamentals

• Revenue significantly declining or showing negative growth compared to previous years
• Net profit continuously decreasing, indicating weakening profitability
• Major events like changes in actual controllers or management turmoil

Valuation bubble signs

• Stock price surging sharply due to market sentiment or speculative capital in the short term
• Price-to-earnings ratio significantly above historical averages or industry norms
• Price breaking previous highs without fundamental improvement

Technical confirmation

• Price reaching obvious resistance levels or previous highs
• Signs of overbought conditions followed by a high-level decline
• Large capital outflows over consecutive days

Cost-benefit analysis of shorting

Establish short positions near relatively high points or resistance zones. The advantage is that risk is limited (price already near high levels), while profit potential is large (downward space).

Conversely, shorting at low levels is extremely risky. Price rebounds or trend reversals can cause substantial losses, while profit margins are limited.

Case study:
U.S. steel stocks (ticker X), from a high of $47.64 in early 2018, due to slowing U.S. economic growth, declining steel demand, and shrinking corporate profits, fell to a historic low of $4.54 in March 2021, a drop of over 90%. In such a clear bearish trend, investors can short at relatively high levels with high probability of profit.

Another example: the USD/JPY currency pair has been weakening since 2021. With the Bank of Japan ending its 17-year negative interest rate policy and the dollar entering a rate-cut cycle, continuing to short the yen is no longer wise; the market landscape has changed.

The core principle when choosing to buy long: only target assets with obvious shorting value and sufficient downward space. Small fluctuations with high transaction costs and fees may leave little profit.

Practical tips for stock buying for long positions

Timing entry at high levels

“High level” here does not mean shorting just because the stock is rising, but rather when the current price deviates from its fundamental value.

For example: if the shipping industry is inevitably facing excess capacity and falling freight rates, then when shipping stocks rise unreasonably, shorting and waiting for the price to return to a reasonable level is appropriate. But if the company’s profits are rising and driving stock prices higher, shorting against the trend is counterproductive and likely to be “squeezed” (liquidation due to continued rise).

In terms of strategy, after a clear downtrend is established, establish short positions at relatively high points (previous highs or key resistance levels) and wait patiently for time and trend to reward you.

Preference for short-term trading

Stock short selling is often a short-term strategy. Positions are opened and closed within hours or minutes, avoiding overnight holdings. Advantages include:

• Quickly locking in profits and reducing reversal risks
• Avoiding gap risks caused by overnight news
• More efficient capital utilization

Strictly set stop-loss points

Short selling is a high-risk trading method. Always set clear stop-loss levels when establishing a short position to ensure losses are within controllable limits. Unstopped short positions are equivalent to exposure to unlimited risk.

Capital management and position control

Short opportunities are rare and easy to grasp. Do not diversify or build positions gradually. Instead, when a high-probability opportunity is confirmed, allocate an appropriate amount of capital to the position, ensuring you can withstand potential reversals.

In other words: stay cautious during normal times, but once a stock with clear shorting value is identified, increase your position decisively and appropriately.

Summary of practical operation steps

Complete steps for stock buying for long positions:

Step 1: Choose and open a suitable trading account
Select between a margin account or CFD account based on your needs. Ensure the platform is regulated.

Step 2: Complete identity verification and fund deposit
Provide necessary ID documents, pass the platform’s suitability assessment, and deposit funds as required.

Step 3: Search and select shorting targets
Use fundamental, technical, and valuation analysis to identify stocks with shorting potential.

Step 4: Establish short positions at relatively high points

• Click “Sell” or “Short”
• Enter trade volume
• Set stop-loss and take-profit levels
• Confirm the order

Step 5: Monitor positions and manage risks
Closely track the target’s movements, adjust stop-loss orders as needed (e.g., trailing stops), and close the position decisively upon reaching profit targets.

Final risk warning: The stock market is full of variables, and short selling is especially so. Whether going long or short, always base your decisions on clear trading logic. Do not enter impulsively if you lack sufficient understanding. Remember, no one can earn beyond their knowledge. Protect your capital, keep learning, and proceed steadily—this is the right path to long-term profitability.