HFM information and reviews
HFM
96%
FXCC information and reviews
FXCC
92%
FxPro information and reviews
FxPro
89%
FBS information and reviews
FBS
88%
XM information and reviews
XM
86%
Exness information and reviews
Exness
86%

Forex swap: what it is, how it is calculated, and what are swap-free accounts in Octa


What is a Forex swap?

Swap is a commission charged for carrying open positions overnight to the next trading day in the Forex market. The exact moment when the swap is withdrawn from your trading account depends on your broker. Most brokers charge it most often between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. server time.

The Forex market is over-the-counter and non-deliverable, meaning you are not the owner of the trading asset. In order not to cause the need for calculations, the system automatically closes an open position on the current trading day and opens it on the next one. Such closing is considered conditional, as the position is carried over, and the swap is charged.

Depending on the value of the swap and the position, the swap can be negative or positive. In other words, you will either have to pay a commission or be paid a commission for holding an open position overnight. This is because the margin system used in Forex trading allows you to use the additional capital the broker provides. You borrow funds to open a position from your broker.

What is a Forex swap

There is an opinion among traders that the Forex swap is nothing but a broker's commission. However, this is not true. Let's find out how swaps work in the Forex market.

How do swaps work in the Forex market?

Every time you open a position, you make two transactions: buying one and selling another currency in a currency pair. So, you are essentially borrowing that money to sell one of the currencies and need to pay interest on the borrowed amount. However, in doing so, the currency you buy will earn you interest.

If the base interest rate on the currency you buy is higher than the currency you sell, you can earn interest on the difference in rates for carrying an open position to the next day. However, given the broker's markup, regardless of the direction of the open position (buying or selling), you will have to pay a commission.

Thus, the value of a swap depends on the market and the instrument you are trading. For example, the swap on the same EURUSD and USDJPY positions will differ.

The value of swap varies depending on:

Why is there a triple swap?

Sometimes, a swap is charged for holding an open position over the weekend, even if you did not have it on Saturday and Sunday. Such a fee is called a triple swap. Since the markets are closed on weekends, the triple swap was invented to compensate for this and is charged either on Fridays or Wednesdays, depending on the specific market.

This is because orders are settled on the Forex market on the second working day from the trade date (T+2). Since the value date falls on a weekend, the transfer is made for three days at once (on Monday). Therefore, from Wednesday to Thursday (at 12 a.m.), the swap is charged for the past weekend and Wednesday.

In other words, if you hold your position overnight when the triple swap is applied, your order will be charged three times the standard swap.

Are there swap-free accounts?

To make trading more convenient and accessible, many brokers have introduced the concept of swap-free accounts.

Swap-free accounts relieve the trader from the need to constantly monitor the size of accounting rates on currencies in a currency pair, make trading more straightforward, and allow taking into account in advance the commission for the transfer of positions when calculating the financial result of planned transactions. It is also relevant for those clients who cannot use swaps due to religious beliefs. This determines the second name of this type of account — Islamic accounts.

Charged daily, the swap fee accumulates over time, making trading less favourable. To enhance the investment opportunities of its customers, Octa has decided to remove swap fees for all types of trading accounts. These fees will no longer prevent traders from using medium- and long-term strategies in the financial market. Now, they can keep that position open for as long as they see fit and with no swap cost.

Octa is an international broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services already utilised by clients from 180 countries with more than 42 million trading accounts. Free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools they provide help clients reach their investment goals. The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities. Octa has also won over 70 awards since its foundation, including the 'Best Educational Broker 2023' award from Global Forex Awards and the 'Best Global Broker Asia 2022' award from International Business Magazine.


RELATED

Forex Market Hours

Other than being the largest and most talked about financial market out there, Forex has a very appealing characteristic - around-the-clock operation. Being available...

IronFX: How do I start trading forex online? A complete guide

Simply put, forex is a financial market that allows trading currencies globally. If traders believe that a currency will be stronger in value than its pair and if this is indeed the case in the end...

Is it Easy to Learn Forex? A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Forex Trading

Forex trading is a popular and potentially lucrative way to earn both active and passive income. However, it's essential to understand that learning forex is an ongoing process that doesn't depend on whether...

A Guide to Demo Trading Accounts

Embarking on your trading journey is akin to stepping into a vast, dynamic universe with its own set of rules. Whether you aim to explore the realms of forex, delve into precious metals...

What are CFDs?

Have you heard about CFDs? If not, you probably wonder: "What is a CFD?". CFD stands for "contract for difference". It is a contract between two parties, a "buyer" and "seller"...

How to place your first trade in Forex?

Forex is a unique financial platform. It gives traders an opportunity for both incredible profit and equally incredible loss. Thousands of people every day decide...

Forex Copy Trading: A Complete Guide

Copy trading is an increasingly popular trading strategy among forex traders. Like its name suggests, copy trading involves copying or following the trades made by other traders...

Understanding the Nuances of Limit Orders in Trading

In the intricate and fluctuating world of trading, limit orders emerge as an essential tool for investors and traders aiming to assert control over their transaction prices...

What Is a Stock Index?

A stock index is used to describe the stock market's performance or a specific part of it and compare the returns on investments. In general, an index uses a weighted average of stock prices...

Understanding Cross Trading: An In-Depth Analysis

In the labyrinthine world of finance, cross trading stands out as a debated and intricate transactional practice. While it offers certain efficiencies, it’s also encased in a thick layer of regulatory...

How to Become a Professional Trader?

After learning more about the world of trading and getting real money from your trades, you might start thinking about becoming a professional trader. But what makes a professional trader?

Technical and Fundamental analysis

Technical analysis complements fundamental analysis by focusing more on numbers, patterns, and statistics, instead of the intrinsic value of an asset...

A Comprehensive Guide to Initiating Your Journey in Trading

The allure of financial markets is undeniable. In light of the digital revolution and the global shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic...

ETF vs Index Fund: Similarities and Differences

Wondering what is the difference between ETFs and index funds? This article explains that and more, including what to look out for when choosing between them. Index funds and ETFs...

Stock Indices: What Are They And How To Trade Them

When describing the markets, we might hear of popular phrases like “the market has surged higher” or “stocks tumbled to new lows” when reading and listening to news reports...

Stop Loss: the lifeline of every trader

Stop Loss (SL) is one of the most important concepts in the FX market. Every trader has the opportunity to benefit from this trading tool.

What Is A Demo Account And Why Is It So Important?

A trader gradually learns the essence of exchange trading. In this case, he can choose two ways - to use a demo account or trade immediately for real money...

What is stock split and stock split reverse?

Apple, Amazon and Tesla have all split their stocks in the past in order to make their shares more accessible to retail investors. In the following article you will learn what a stock split is...

What Is Bitcoin and How Does It Work?

You must have heard about it. The first and most famous cryptocurrency has been in the headlines due to a vertiginous increase in value, breaking the threshold of $1,000 for the first time on 1 January 2017...

Curbing your losses with Stop Loss and Take Profit

Trading on a stock exchange is always connected with great risks. That's where Stop Loss and Take Profit come into play: these are helpful tools used by traders to minimize...

FP Markets information and reviews
FP Markets
81%
IronFX information and reviews
IronFX
77%
T4Trade information and reviews
T4Trade
76%
Just2Trade information and reviews
Just2Trade
76%
FXNovus information and reviews
FXNovus
75%
Riverquode information and reviews
Riverquode
75%

© 2006-2025 Forex-Ratings.com

The usage of this website constitutes acceptance of the following legal information.
Any contracts of financial instruments offered to conclude bear high risks and may result in the full loss of the deposited funds. Prior to making transactions one should get acquainted with the risks to which they relate. All the information featured on the website (reviews, brokers' news, comments, analysis, quotes, forecasts or other information materials provided by Forex Ratings, as well as information provided by the partners), including graphical information about the forex companies, brokers and dealing desks, is intended solely for informational purposes, is not a means of advertising them, and doesn't imply direct instructions for investing. Forex Ratings shall not be liable for any loss, including unlimited loss of funds, which may arise directly or indirectly from the usage of this information. The editorial staff of the website does not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the content of the comments or reviews made by the site users about the forex companies. The entire responsibility for the contents rests with the commentators. Reprint of the materials is available only with the permission of the editorial staff.
We use cookies to improve your experience and to make your stay with us more comfortable. By using Forex-Ratings.com website you agree to the cookies policy.