The Limit Order
A limit order is like a market order with one exception, price takes the highest priority. For limit buy orders, the customer includes, along with the type and quantity of futures contracts to purchase, a maximum price to pay for the contracts. A customer will use a limit buy order if they desire to buy the futures contract, but want to pay no more than a specified price - the limit price. This price is always below the prevailing market price, since the customer would have otherwise entered a market order.

The Stop Order
A stop order, like a limit order, is only executed once a specific price is reached, but the motivation for the transaction is different. Whereas the limit order is typically used to enter into a futures position at a specific price, a stop order is usually used to exit or close a futures position at a specific price. Stop orders are most often used to close a position that is losing money, and are hence regarded as a useful risk management tool. A stop order to buy has a price that is above the market price and would be used by a customer having a short futures position. If prices rise so that loss accrues on the customer's short position, the stop loss provides a limit to the loss - as soon as prices rise to the stop price, the order is executed as a market order. Similarly, a stop order to sell has a price that is below the market price and would be used by a customer having a long futures position. If prices fall so that loss accrues on the customer's long position, the stop loss provides a limit to the loss - as soon as prices fall to the stop price, the order is executed, thereby closing out the initial long position.