FXCM Slippage Statistics

An FXCM price improvement (positive slippage) occurs when your order executes at a more favorable price than the price you request. The opposite of a price improvement is negative slippage, when your order executes at a less favorable price. With FXCM's execution model, both price improvements and negative slippage are possible, as the statistics below show.

Find out in this article which order types and market conditions could potentially put you in the most likely situation to receive either a price improvement or negative slippage.¹

Highlights

25.55% of all stop, limit, 'at market', and entry orders received positive slippage
12.60% of all stop, limit, 'at market', and entry orders received negative slippage
68.98% of all limit and limit entry orders received positive slippage
50.78% of all stop and stop entry orders received negative slippage

These highlights come from orders that executed through FXCM Group from 1 January, 2023 to 29 February, 2024. Data excludes certain types of non-direct clients.²

As you can see, with FXCM, positive slippage occurs as frequently as negative slippage. We believe that this reflects positively on our forex execution model, which aims to provide fair and transparent execution.

Table 1.1 Positive and Negative Slippage by Month

Slippage can occur for many reasons, but price volatility is often the largest contributor. Typically, as price volatility increases, slippage (both positive and negative) occurs more frequently; as price volatility decreases, slippage occurs less frequently. This is, for example, why traders typically see more slippage around news events.

DATE	ORDERS PLACED	NO SLIPPAGE	PRICE IMPROVEMENT	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE	NO SLIPPAGE %	PRICE IMPROVEMENT %	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE %

Jan. 23	3,824,294	2,200,871	1,071,921	551,502	57.55%	28.03%	14.42%
Feb. 23	3,835,541	2,246,022	1,067,072	522,447	58.56%	27.82%	13.62%
Mar. 23	4,774,552	2,739,513	1,365,623	669,416	57.38%	28.60%	14.02%
Apr. 23	3,362,186	1,980,078	923,958	458,150	58.89%	27.48%	13.63%
May. 23	3,772,459	2,333,805	968,588	470,066	61.86%	25.68%	12.46%
Jun. 23	3,518,055	2,167,433	918,531	432,091	61.61%	26.11%	12.28%
Jul. 23	3,403,854	2,103,901	874,062	425,891	61.81%	25.68%	12.51%
Aug. 23	3,876,658	2,478,544	935,793	462,321	63.94%	24.14%	11.93%
Sep. 23	3,224,221	2,100,076	747,755	376,390	65.13%	23.19%	11.67%
Oct. 23	3,687,060	2,307,685	917,813	461,562	62.59%	24.89%	12.52%
Nov. 23	2,965,094	1,951,632	675,095	338,367	65.82%	22.77%	11.41%
Dec. 23	2,568,451	1,648,180	611,823	308,448	64.17%	23.82%	12.01%
Jan. 24	3,009,954	1,954,347	709,405	346,202	64.93%	23.57%	11.50%
Feb. 24	2,503,289	1,679,552	559,419	264,318	67.09%	22.35%	10.56%
Total	48,325,668	29,891,639	12,346,858	6,087,171	61.85%	25.55%	12.60%

Table 1.2 Positive and Negative Slippage by Order Type

ORDER TYPE	ORDERS PLACED	NO SLIPPAGE	PRICE IMPROVEMENT	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE	NO SLIPPAGE %	PRICE IMPROVEMENT %	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE %

Close Market	13,935,249	9,265,319	3,454,724	1,215,206	66.49%	24.79%	8.72%
Limit	2,245,916	693,921	1,551,995	0	30.90%	69.10%	0.00%
Limit Entry	1,980,824	617,413	1,363,411	0	31.17%	68.83%	0.00%
Margin Call	1,614,716	877,648	352,577	384,491	54.35%	21.84%	23.81%
Open Market	21,110,972	14,484,758	4,842,477	1,783,737	68.61%	22.94%	8.45%
Stop	3,365,413	826,921	463,514	2,074,978	24.57%	13.77%	61.66%
Stop Entry	935,270	269,144	121,486	544,640	28.78%	12.99%	58.23%
Other	3,137,308	2,856,515	196,674	84,119	91.05%	6.27%	2.68%
Total	48,325,668	29,891,639	12,346,858	6,087,171	61.85%	25.55%	12.60%

Total orders in the table above is comprised of only the order types listed.

Definition of Order Types

Close Market: Market order to close a position; order type is set to 'at market'.
Limit: Limit order.
Limit Entry: Limit entry order.
Margin Call: Market order to close a position; order type is set to 'at market'.
Open Market: Market order to open a position; order type is set to 'at market'.
Stop Order: Stop order.
Stop Entry: Stop entry order.

Table 2.1 Market Orders by Order Size

Close Market Order, Open Market Order, Open Order, Close Range, Open Range, Close Order

ORDER SIZE	ORDERS PLACED	NO SLIPPAGE	PRICE IMPROVEMENT	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE	NO SLIPPAGE %	PRICE IMPROVEMENT %	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE %

< 0.5	34,999,919	23,771,957	8,265,327	2,962,635	67.92%	23.62%	8.46%
0.5 - 0.9	163,589	114,077	29,654	19,858	69.73%	18.13%	12.14%
1.0 - 1.9	89,461	61,144	12,546	15,771	68.35%	14.02%	17.63%
2.0 - 2.9	13,357	6,088	1,793	5,476	45.58%	13.42%	41.00%
3.0 - 3.9	8,264	3,373	1,137	3,754	40.82%	13.76%	45.43%
4.0 - 4.9	2,550	1,163	377	1,010	45.61%	14.78%	39.61%
5.0 - 9.9	6,836	2,931	730	3,175	42.88%	10.68%	46.45%
10 +	1,700	713	283	704	41.94%	16.65%	41.41%
Total	35,285,676	23,961,446	8,311,847	3,012,383	67.91%	23.56%	8.54%

Table 2.2 Limit Orders by Order Size

Immediately Executed Limit: Close Limit, Open Limit

ORDER SIZE	ORDERS PLACED	NO SLIPPAGE	PRICE IMPROVEMENT	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE	NO SLIPPAGE %	PRICE IMPROVEMENT %	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE %

< 0.5	2,596,126	2,439,929	156,197	0	93.98%	6.02%	0.00%
0.5 - 0.9	62,140	59,443	2,697	0	95.66%	4.34%	0.00%
1.0 - 1.9	70,297	67,834	2,463	0	96.50%	3.50%	0.00%
2.0 - 2.9	1,149	1,092	57	0	95.04%	4.96%	0.00%
3.0 - 3.9	1,329	1,293	36	0	97.29%	2.71%	0.00%
4.0 - 4.9	557	535	22	0	96.05%	3.95%	0.00%
5.0 - 9.9	522	499	23	0	95.59%	4.41%	0.00%
10 +	287	282	5	0	98.26%	1.74%	0.00%
Total	2,732,407	2,570,907	161,500	0	94.09%	5.91%	0.00%

Table 2.3 Margin Calls and Stop Orders

Stop and Margin Calls: Stop, Stop Entry, Trailing Stop, Trailing Stop Entry, Margin Call

ORDER SIZE	ORDERS PLACED	NO SLIPPAGE	PRICE IMPROVEMENT	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE	NO SLIPPAGE %	PRICE IMPROVEMENT %	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE %

< 0.5	6,012,746	2,007,975	950,920	3,053,851	33.40%	15.82%	50.79%
0.5 - 0.9	22,591	7,431	4,030	11,130	32.89%	17.84%	49.27%
1.0 - 1.9	10,902	2,831	2,071	6,000	25.97%	19.00%	55.04%
2.0 - 2.9	1,955	215	349	1,391	11.00%	17.85%	71.15%
3.0 - 3.9	1,356	161	193	1,002	11.87%	14.23%	73.89%
4.0 - 4.9	629	59	70	500	9.38%	11.13%	79.49%
5.0 - 9.9	683	71	106	506	10.40%	15.52%	74.08%
10 +	216	36	57	123	16.67%	26.39%	56.94%
Total	6,051,078	2,018,779	957,796	3,074,503	33.36%	15.83%	50.81%

Table 2.4 Resting Limit Orders

Resting Limit Orders: Limit, Trailing Limit Entry, Limit Entry

ORDER SIZE	ORDERS PLACED	NO SLIPPAGE	PRICE IMPROVEMENT	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE	NO SLIPPAGE %	PRICE IMPROVEMENT %	NEGATIVE SLIPPAGE %

< 0.5	4,204,294	1,304,018	2,900,276	0	31.02%	68.98%	0.00%
0.5 - 0.9	15,051	5,298	9,753	0	35.20%	64.80%	0.00%
1.0 - 1.9	5,210	1,533	3,677	0	29.42%	70.58%	0.00%
2.0 - 2.9	876	224	652	0	25.57%	74.43%	0.00%
3.0 - 3.9	501	138	363	0	27.54%	72.46%	0.00%
4.0 - 4.9	266	58	208	0	21.80%	78.20%	0.00%
5.0 - 9.9	362	87	275	0	24.03%	75.97%	0.00%
10 +	253	17	236	0	6.72%	93.28%	0.00%
Total	4,226,813	1,311,373	2,915,440	0	31.03%	68.97%	0.00%

The above data comes from various order types that executed through FXCM Group from 1 January, 2023 to 29 February, 2024. Data excludes certain types of non-direct clients.³

Order size is calculated per the notional value of the order and displayed in MM USD.

Limit and limit entry orders will only execute at the requested price or better and cannot receive negative slippage. Any negative slippage on a limit or limit entry order is an error and clients are eligible to receive trade adjustments in the event that these errors occur. Price improvements are subject to available liquidity.

Additional Highlights

Based on data gathered from orders executed through FXCM Group from 1 January, 2023 to 29 February, 2024, we have found the following to be true:

Limit and limit entry orders are most likely to receive positive slippage.
Stop and stop entry orders are most likely to receive negative slippage.
'Market range' market orders can help to prevent negative slippage.

EXECUTION CERTAINTY

Traders typically use order types that offer execution certainty when they want to ensure entry into the market.

PRICE CERTAINTY

Trader typically use order types that offer price certainty when they want to ensure that their orders are only filled if a particular price (or price range) is satisfied.

Selecting Order Types

There are several order types to choose from when trading forex. Each one is designed to address a specific trading need. Some order types are better suited for times when price volatility is high; some when it is low. Some order types are better suited for use around news events; some are more suitable to use when you hold positions open over the weekend.

The following information regarding order types may be helpful when deciding which order type to use.

Market Orders

A market order enters or exits a position immediately at the best available price.² It is the most frequently used order type with FXCM.

Slippage Characteristics:

Market orders can receive positive slippage and negative slippage. A 'market range' market order provides price certainty but it does not provide execution certainty. An 'at market' market order provides execution certainty but it does not provide price certainty.

At Market and Market Range:

FXCM market orders include two order types: 'at market' and 'market range'.

Selecting 'at market' instructs the order to fill at the market price. This could be the price requested, a better price, or a
worse price depending on market conditions. The executed price is determined primarily by price volatility at the time the order executes.

Selecting 'market range' instructs the order to execute immediately only if the best available price is within a defined range of prices. If the only available price is outside of the defined range, the order will not execute. This order type guarantees price certainty but it does not guarantee execution certainty.

THE TAKEAWAY

Market Orders are beneficial when you want to enter or exit the market now. The 'At Market' order type guarantees execution certainty but not price certainty. The 'Market Range' order type guarantees price certainty but not execution certainty.

Entry Orders

An entry order will only trigger for execution if the market price reaches the entry order price.

Slippage Characteristics:

There are two types of entry orders: stop entry orders and limit entry orders. A stop entry order can receive both positive and negative slippage. A limit entry order is designed to only receive positive slippage.

Stop Entry vs. Limit Entry:

An entry order is considered a 'stop' entry order when the entry order price is a less favorable price than the current market price (i.e. a higher price when you are buying and a lower price when you are selling). This order type can be filled at the requested price, a better price, or a worse price depending on market conditions. Using this order type, especially around news events or other volatile market conditions, can subject you to negative slippage.

An entry order is considered a 'limit' entry order when the order price is a more favorable price than the current market price (i.e. a lower price if you are buying and a higher price if you are selling). This order type is designed to only fill at the requested price or better. Thus, traders gain price certainty but they do not have execution certainty when using this order type. Using a limit entry order to open trades, especially around news events or other volatile market conditions, may be a better option than using a stop entry order because negative slippage can be avoided.

THE TAKEAWAY

Entry orders are beneficial when you want to enter or exit the market at a future price. When trading around volatile market conditions a limit entry order can be used to open trades instead of a stop entry order if you want to potentially avoid negative slippage. Please note: limit entry orders do not provide execution certainty.

Stop and Limit Orders

A stop order is designed to execute at the market price. This could be the price requested, a better price, or a worse price depending on market conditions. It was designed this way because a stop order is most frequently used to exit a trade from a losing position. A stop order provides execution certainty but it does not provide price certainty, so negative slippage is possible.

A limit order is designed to execute at a specified price or better. For many traders, the limit order price is set at their profit target. Limit orders provide price certainty but they do not provide execution certainty because they are designed to only fill at the limit price or better.

Slippage Characteristics:

A stop order can receive both positive and negative slippage. A limit order is designed to receive positive slippage but not negative slippage.

THE TAKEAWAY

Stop and limit orders are beneficial when you want to exit the market at a future price. When trading around volatile market conditions a limit order can be used to close trades to provide price certainty.