Understanding
Swaps
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Gold
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What Is Swap In Trading?
In financial markets, a swap is a contractual agreement between two parties, as in Excent Capital and you, the investor, to exchange cash flows based on a predefined amount, time frame, and other agreed-upon terms and conditions.In the context of FX and CFD trading, a swap typically refers to the overnight interest fee applied when a position is held past the end of the trading day. This fee, also known as the rollover rate, is calculated based on the interest rate differential between the two currencies or instruments involved in the trade.
Swaps play a crucial role in leveraged trading, as they are automatically applied at the end of each trading day (commonly at 00:00 server time). Depending on the type of position (buy or sell) and the instrument being traded, the swap may result in either a credit or a charge to your trading account or an addition of its amount to your floating position.
Knowing how swaps work is essential for managing costs and maximizing potential returns in overnight and long-term positions.
The Swap Formula
Swap = Swap long/short × number of days × pip value
Pip value = lots × contract size × pip size
A negative result means a fee is charged, while a positive value will be credited to your floating position of this particular asset.
Understanding Trading Swap Rates
Swap rates vary based on several factors, including the type of financial instrument, the market in which it’s traded, the type of order, and the central bank’s interest rate policies.To better understand how these variables apply in real-world scenarios, let’s look at how swap rates work across different asset classes.
US Stocks and Indexes:
Our stocks CFDs are swap-free, making them a great option for long-term holding strategies.
FX:
In the foreign currency market, most currency pairs are subject to daily swap rates. A triple swap is typically applied on Wednesdays to cover the interest for holding positions over the weekend.
Commodities and Energies:
For assets like oil, gold, and other commodities, the triple swap is applied on Wednesdays, also accounting for the weekend rollover period.
Cryptocurrencies:
The swap rates of cryptos vary depending on each asset.
ETFs:
The swap rates of ETFs vary depending on each asset.
What Is a Triple Swap in Trading?
A triple swap is a larger version of the regular rollover swap fee, applied on specific days, usually Wednesdays, to account for non-trading days, such as weekends.
When you keep a trade open overnight, a swap fee is either charged or paid depending on the instrument and the direction of your position. On Wednesdays, all instruments, where a swap applies, charge a triple swap, as markets are closed over the weekend. This means the swap charged that day covers Saturday and Sunday.
Understanding how triple swaps work is key to optimising long-term positions.
Swap-Free Instruments
At Excent Capital, we also offer a range of swap-free instruments, including indices and U.S. stocks. These instruments do not incur overnight swap fees, making them ideal for traders who prefer to hold positions for longer periods.
This approach provides an easier cost management, specially for new traders and can also improve the overall profitability of long-duration trades.
4 Uses Of Swaps to Optimise Your Strategy
Risk Management
Traders use swaps as a tool to manage the interest rate risks that come with holding positions overnight. These swaps help balance out potential gains or losses caused by fluctuations in interest rates, allowing traders to better control costs and strategies over time.
Hedging
Swaps can be a strategic tool to hedge against fluctuations. For example, specially in FX trading, holding a long-term short-position on EUR/USD may result in positive swap earnings, depending on the interest rate differentials set by central banks.
Speculative Opportunities
Swaps can also be leveraged to speculate on interest rate movements, particularly in volatile currency environments where central banks are actively adjusting monetary policy.
Optimizing Costs and Returns
Manage your trading by minimising unnecessary rollover fees and maximising overnight interest gains. Knowing when and where to hold your positions can make a significant difference in your bottom line.
Trade smarter with Excent Capital. Whether you're active in trading FX, Crypto, Indices, ETFs, or Commodities, knowing how swaps impact your trades gives you a competitive edge.
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