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Defensive trading means investing in stocks or assets that are less sensitive to economic cycles and tend to perform steadily during market downturns, such as utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples. It’s a strategy to protect your portfolio from volatility and losses during uncertain or declining markets.

Utilities are a defensive sector because they provide essential services like electricity and water that people need regardless of the economy, so their demand remains stable even during economic downturns. This stability leads to steady revenues and dividends, making utilities less volatile compared to other sectors.

Defensive stocks are shares of companies that provide essential goods or services, such as utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples. These stocks tend to remain stable and perform well even during economic downturns because their products are always in demand.

To trade defensively, focus on investing in stable, low-volatility stocks like utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples that perform well during market downturns. Also, diversify your portfolio, avoid high-risk bets, and consider using strategies like stop-loss orders to protect against big losses.