Read both dealing prices

Traders normally buy at the ask and sell at the bid; the spread is ask minus bid. A chart may show only one side or a midpoint, so touching a line does not establish the expected fill.

An illustrative calculation

A hypothetical EUR/USD quote of 1.0800/1.0802 has a two-pip spread under the common convention. For 10,000 euros, an immediate unchanged-price round trip produces roughly minus two dollars before other charges.

Compare actual conditions

Liquidity, announcements and session timing can affect spreads. An advertised minimum is not an every-trade condition. Review typical and extreme observations alongside commissions, financing and possible slippage.

Compare matched conditions

A calm-session quote and an announcement-period quote cannot establish which arrangement is generally cheaper. Match times and market conditions and examine repeated observations. A single minimum spread describes one quote, not a continuously available level.

Source and reading notes

This is an independently written educational overview based on the ATFX reading linked below. Examples are illustrative, not live quotes or forecasts. It does not reproduce the original article or imply endorsement by its author.