Swap (ค่าสวอป)

Swap is a small interest-based charge or credit applied when you hold a position overnight. It is also called rollover. It is applied when your trade stays open past the platform's daily cutoff time, not when you open or close it.

Why it exists

In forex you are buying one currency and selling another, and each currency has its own interest rate. Swap reflects the difference between those two rates, plus a small adjustment from the provider. Gold and index trades can also have swaps, based on financing costs.

Positive or negative

Swap can be negative (you pay) or positive (you receive). It depends on your direction, buy or sell, and on the instrument. Buy and sell swaps are usually different, and both can even be negative.

Simple example

Suppose the platform shows a swap of -5 USD per night for buying 1 Lot of a pair. If you hold that trade for 3 nights, the total swap is 3 × -5 = -15 USD. If the swap were +2 USD per night, you would receive 3 × 2 = +6 USD.

Why it matters

Swap is usually small for short trades, but it adds up when you hold positions for days or weeks. Many platforms charge triple swap on one day of the week to cover the weekend, often Wednesday for forex. Rates change over time.

Common beginner mistake: ignoring swap on long-term trades. Check the swap values in your platform's instrument details before you hold a position overnight.