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Troubleshooting5 min read · beginner

Why is my profit/loss different from what I expected?

The final result on a trade often differs from the raw price move. Here is what accounts for the gap.

Important: This is educational content only, not investment advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose.

What is happening

You calculated a profit or loss from the price move, but the account shows a different number. The difference is normal: your real result includes costs and pricing details that a simple price calculation ignores.

What makes up the difference

The spread: you enter on one side and exit on the other, so you start behind by the spread. Commission per lot on some accounts. Swap for holding overnight, which can be a credit or a charge. The exact pip value and contract size for that instrument, which affect how much each point is worth. And any currency conversion if the instrument is priced in a currency other than your account's.

How to reconcile it

In the account history, look at the closed trade and read the profit, commission, and swap fields separately, then compare with the raw entry-to-exit move. Confirm the contract size and pip value for the symbol. The pieces will add up once you include spread, commission, swap, and conversion.

How to plan for it

Learn the pip value and contract size of what you trade, and always include spread, commission, and swap when estimating a result. For short holds, costs can be a large share of the outcome, so factor them in before entering.

Broker's fault or yours?

This is usually a calculation gap on your side, closed once you count all the costs. If the numbers still do not reconcile after including spread, commission, swap, and conversion, ask support for a breakdown of the trade.

Important: This is educational content only, not investment advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose.

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