Trading / Execution & Liquidity
EXECUTION · Execution & Liquidity

Follow an order
from submission to fill.

Orders are processed under an STP model, and the fill price depends on the price and depth available in the market when the order arrives. This page uses illustrative animations to explain what an order goes through, where slippage comes from, and what we do and do not commit to.

STPExecution model
MT5Market execution
Negative balanceprotection
Current order · Illustrative#0001
BUY0.50 lots
Requested price 1.16482
  1. Submit
  2. Validate
  3. Process
  4. Fill
Illustrative fill price—
Awaiting fill
ORDER LIFECYCLE

Five stages of an order.

From the moment you click in MT5 to receiving the fill confirmation, an order passes through the five stages below. It plays automatically; you can also click any step to view it.

01

Client submits

This stage involves
    MARKET DEPTH

    Why larger orders are more prone to slippage.

    The volume available at each price level is limited. The larger the order, the more likely it needs to consume depth across several levels, pulling the average fill price away from the best price. Drag the lot size to see what happens.

    Bid volume by levelAsk volume by levelDepth consumed by this orderIllustrative data · Not actual quotes or depth
    Levels consumed–Filled level by level from the best price
    Best price–Top of book when the order arrives
    Illustrative average fill price–Weighted by volume filled at each level
    Illustrative slippage–Average fill price vs best price

    Illustrative data to explain the principle only: actual available depth changes with the market in real time, and orders may also be rejected or partially filled. 1 pip = 0.0001.

    SLIPPAGE

    Slippage: it can be negative or positive.

    Between sending an order and its fill, the price may keep moving. The difference between the fill price and the requested price is slippage — negative when it works against you, positive when it works in your favour.

    1. ① Requested price
    2. ② Market moves
    3. ③ Actual fill
    Illustrative animation · Not live prices
    Negative slippage

    The fill is worse than the requested price: buys fill higher, sells fill lower.

    Positive slippage

    The fill is better than the requested price: buys fill lower, sells fill higher.

    Common causes
    Fast marketsPrice gapsThin liquidityLarge ordersMajor data releases

    During major data releases, orders are filled at the best available price at the time.

    SESSIONS & LIQUIDITY

    Liquidity differs by session.

    The FX market runs 24/5, but liquidity is not even throughout the day. Spreads are floating and may widen due to market conditions, liquidity, volatility and session. Click a card to see the session on the timeline.

    Timeline: Beijing time (converted from local 08:00–17:00 / Tokyo 09:00–18:00, with daylight saving handled automatically)Beijing time --:--
    Asian sessionTokyo and other Asian markets are active. Most European and US pairs move relatively calmly, and some instruments trade relatively thinly.Liquidity · Medium (qualitative)
    London sessionMajor European markets open; FX turnover usually rises markedly, and euro- and sterling-related instruments are more active.Liquidity · High (qualitative)
    London × New York overlapBoth major markets are open, usually the most concentrated liquidity of the day; major US data is often released in this window, and prices may move quickly.Liquidity · Most concentrated (qualitative)
    New York sessionUS dollar instruments are more active; liquidity gradually declines after the London close, and spreads may widen or gaps may occur around the close and the Monday open.Liquidity · Medium-high (qualitative)

    Sessions are approximate and for reference only; FX, precious metals, indices and energy instruments have different trading sessions, governed by the MT5 instrument specifications.

    WHAT WE COMMIT

    What we commit to, and what we don’t.

    Execution quality is affected by market conditions. We only describe arrangements we can explain clearly, and do not promote unverifiable metrics.

    ✓What we provide

    • STP execution modelOrders are processed under an STP execution framework.
    • MT5 market executionRepresentative instruments use Market Execution; fill confirmations can be viewed in the MT5 trade history.
    • Negative balance protectionNegative balance protection applies to accounts, subject to the terms of the Client Agreement.
    • Segregated client fundsClient funds are held in segregated accounts.

    ✕What we do not commit to

    • Fixed execution speedExecution time is affected by network and market conditions; we do not publish or commit to execution-speed metrics.
    • Fill rates or “no rejections”Orders may be rejected or partially filled.
    • No slippageIn fast markets, gaps, thin liquidity or for large orders, the fill price may differ from the requested price.
    • Fixed spreadsSpreads float and may widen due to market conditions, liquidity, volatility and session.
    • Naming liquidity providersWe do not publish the names of liquidity providers on the website.

    Understand the execution rules before you trade.

    CFDs and leveraged trading carry high risk; leverage magnifies both gains and losses. Animations and data on this page are illustrative; contract specifications, trading sessions, stop distances and similar are governed by the MT5 instrument specifications and the Product Specifications.