OANDA Spreads
OANDA is one of the world's top forex brokers. But does it have competitive spreads? Read on to find out.
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OANDA is a budget-friendly choice for traders due to its average spreads. But what exactly is its spread for some specific currency pairs or assets?
Keep reading to get precise details on spread rates for specific currency pairs, metals, and commodities.
OANDA Spreads for Major Currency Pairs
OANDA's spreads for major currency pairs are higher but still close to the average industry spreads.
Some of its minor currency pairs, metals, and commodities are lower than the industry average. This is one of the reasons why OANDA is a great option for low-cost trading.
Here are OANDA's average spreads for the 7 major currency pairs:[1]
| Currency Pair | OANDA's Average Spread | Industry Average Spread |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.6 | 0.23 |
| GBP/USD | 1.8 | 0.89 |
| AUD/USD | 1.3 | 1.05 |
| NZD/USD | 1.5 | 1.11 |
| USD/JPY | 1.8 | 0.54 |
| USD/CAD | 2.0 | 1.18 |
| USD/CHF | 1.6 | 0.96 |
Major currency pairs are the most traded currency pairs in foreign exchange. These are pairs that include the US dollar.
Now, let's look into the spreads for the minor pairs.
OANDA Spreads for Minor Currency Pairs
Minor currency pairs generally have higher spreads than the major pairs. For some pairs, OANDA's spread is lower than the industry average. Here are the average spreads at OANDA for some minor currency pairs:[2]
| Currency Pair | OANDA's Average Spread | Industry Average Spread |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/JPY | 2.2 | 1.05 |
| GBP/JPY | 3.2 | 1.96 |
| CAD/JPY | 2.1 | 1.16 |
| NZD/JPY | 2.0 | 0.99 |
| GBP/CAD | 2.2 | 3.44 |
| AUD/JPY | 1.7 | 0.83 |
| EUR/NZD | 5.3 | 3.16 |
Minor currency pairs are pairs that don't contain the US dollar. But they do contain at least one of the other three major currencies: Japanese yen, Euro, and British pound.
Aside from the major and minor pairs, OANDA also offers metals and commodities trading.
OANDA Spreads for Metals and Commodities
Some of OANDA's metals and commodities spreads are lower than the industry average. But some are also higher. Shown below are the average spreads for some common metals and commodities.[3]
| Metal/Commodity | OANDA's Average Spread | Industry Average Spread |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 31 | 33.01 |
| Silver | 170 | 3.01 |
| Copper | 25 | 3.72 |
| Gas | 1 | 4.77 |
| Sugar | 5 | 76.12 |
OANDA spread is high for major currency pairs, but not necessarily for some minor pairs, commodities, and metals. Compared to FOREX.com, OANDA actually has slightly lower spreads. A spread increases depending on the time of trading and economic events that cause market volatility.
Factors that Affect Forex Spreads
Aside from the broker's standard spread charge, these two factors also affect the widening or tightening of spreads:
- Time of Trading
The time when you place a trade matters. The spread will be lower if you place a trade on a US currency during the US trading session than when you trade the same pair during the Asian trading session.That's because there are fewer traders if it is not the normal trading session for the currency. If there are not enough market participants, the broker tends to widen the spread to compensate for the risk of loss.
- Economic Events
Economic events such as when the US unemployment rate comes out can cause volatility in currencies.Volatility is when exchange rates fluctuate too much. During these events, a broker tends to increase the spread because it can be difficult to pinpoint the actual exchange rate.
What Does a Higher Spread Mean
Minor currency pairs generally have higher spreads than the major currency pairs. What does this mean?
If a spread is higher, that means you're paying more to the broker whenever you're trading that particular asset. The higher the currency pair's spread, the more expensive it is to trade that pair.
That's why it's often best for beginners to start trading with the major pairs. This way, the trading cost won't be too high.
The best spread in forex is a zero spread. That means the buying price and the selling price are the same. If a currency pair has zero spread, that means your broker did not charge you anything for trading that currency. But there's no zero spread in reality. Thus, the best possible spread is a spread that is closer to zero.
Non-Trading Fees
Aside from spreads, OANDA also has non-trading fees such as an inactivity fee and withdrawal fee.
- Inactivity Fee
OANDA charges a $10 inactivity fee for accounts that have no open trades for the past year.[4] - Withdrawal Fee
OANDA charges $20 for every withdrawal through bank transfer.[5]
What Is OANDA?
OANDA, short for Olsen and Associates, is one of the world's premier forex (foreign exchange) brokers. This broker is known to have one of the largest customer funds held.
It has a strong track record of regulatory compliance, and this demonstrates the company's commitment to providing a secure and reliable trading environment.
OANDA offers forex traders what they need to effectively navigate the financial markets. This includes currency conversion, foreign exchange data services, and global online brokerage service.
This broker does not operate as a bank and is not publicly traded.
Bottom Line
OANDA offers competitive average spreads. This makes it an attractive choice for traders like you.
Spreads of major currency pairs are generally lower than that of the minor currency pairs. So if you're starting out, make sure to stick first with the major pairs before exploring the minor pairs.
Spreads of metals and commodities are way higher than of the currency pairs. Trade these assets only if you have sufficient capital to cushion market volatility.
References
- ^ Oanda. Popular Forex Pairs, Retrieved 12/11/2023
- ^ Oanda. Forex Pairs, Retrieved 12/11/2023
- ^ Oanda. Spreads And Margins, Retrieved 12/11/2023
- ^ Oanda. Our Charges And Fees, Retrieved 12/11/2023
- ^ Oanda. Withdrawal Fees and Costs, Retrieved 12/11/2023
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