HFM information and reviews
HFM
96%
FXCC information and reviews
FXCC
92%
FxPro information and reviews
FxPro
89%
FBS information and reviews
FBS
88%
Vantage information and reviews
Vantage
85%
XM information and reviews
XM
82%

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 The exact moment when the swap is withdrawn from your trading account depends on your broker.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

Are you looking for a new hobby? Put Your Skills to Better Use

Are you looking for a new hobby, but aren't quite sure where to start? Have you considered you might be a trader? Below are a series of questions that will help...

Trading styles

Like every other trader, whether you are a novice trader or talented expert in the field of trading forex, you come with your own unique trading style. No two traders are alike...

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 trade stocks and CFDs on stocks

We continue our series of articles on choosing a trading instrument. This time you will learn what CFDs on stocks are, how to trade them and how...

What Is Social Trading? Differences Between Social And Copy Trading

With the emergence and powerful influence of social media, new investors and traders often look to those who boast about their win streaks and share charts that demonstrate...

Understanding Signal Providers and Forex Trading Signals

In the vast realm of forex trading, a 'signal' serves as a beacon, pointing traders towards potentially profitable trade opportunities. A signal provider is akin to a lighthouse keeper...

How to Trade CFDs on Gold and Silver

Gold and silver have been chosen by traders for hundreds of years now. These metals are always in demand, especially from manufacturers of jewellery or other sectors such as the electronics...

An overview of platinum trading

When traders log into their metatrader 4 account and consider trading precious metals, it is most likely that the metals of gold and silver first spring to mind...

How does interest rate affect currency rates? How to make money on interest rate changes?

How do you predict the currency exchange rate when interest rates change? Can an ordinary trader make money off it? Octa analysts explain in the article.

Money Management

Although you may think the title of Money Management is pretty clear and easy to implement – how to manage your money and invest wisely, it is slightly more than that...

Ultimate guide to trade Stellar Lumens (XLM) for beginners

Stellar is one of the early cryptocurrency networks that has managed to maintain a leading position in the crypto markets. With innovative services...

What are CFDs?

Before venturing into what are CFDs, first let’s take a quick look at the forex market. The forex market is the largest financial market in the world...

The Strongest Currencies in the World

Have you thought about what the highest currency in the world is? Is it the US dollar, the euro, or the British Pound? No, they are not. They are the world’s most famous, most traded...

Guide to Account Security: Safeguarding Against and Addressing Scams

At forex-ratings.com, your security is of paramount importance to us. Our mission is to offer you a digital environment where you can invest, trade, and communicate confidently...

How to Trade Online with AvaTrade?

If you are just starting out in the world of online trading, it may feel a bit daunting, But have no fear as AvaTrade are here to support you every step of the way. With us, you will learn...

What Is a Market Maker?

Anyone who's generally familiar with trading has heard about buyers, sellers and brokers. But there's one type of market participant that often gets...

AUD/USD correlation explained

The AUD/USD correlation reflects how many US dollars are needed to buy one Australian dollar. It means that if the currency pair is traded at 0.85, then $0.85...

How to start trading

Diving into any new industry, especially forex, requires planning. In this article, we’ll break down the process of how to start trading in 7 simple but critical steps...

What is a cryptocurrency wallet and how does it work?

To securely store the crypto investments, traders will need a cryptocurrency wallet. Cryptocurrencies are changing the world. They allow for decentralised...

MetaTrader 4 (MT4): A Comprehensive Guide

MetaTrader 4, an offering from MetaQuotes Software Corporation, has firmly rooted itself in the world of foreign exchange trading. It has become an iconic platform...

FP Markets information and reviews
FP Markets
81%
RoboForex information and reviews
RoboForex
77%
IronFX information and reviews
IronFX
77%
T4Trade information and reviews
T4Trade
76%
Exness information and reviews
Exness
76%
Just2Trade information and reviews
Just2Trade
76%

© 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.