You check a closed trade, look at the chart and notice a gap between the candle and your stop-loss line.
It is reasonable to ask what happened. But a screenshot alone may not show the price that triggered the stop. Start by checking the position direction, chart type and quote data.
Your chart may show only one side of the price
A forex quote has two sides:
- Bid: the price at which you can sell.
- Ask: the price at which you can buy.
The difference is the spread. A buy position normally closes by selling at the bid. A sell position normally closes by buying at the ask.
For typical OTC forex positions, a buy stop loss triggers when the bid reaches or falls below the stop level. A sell stop loss triggers when the ask reaches or rises above it. Exchange-traded instruments can follow different trigger rules, so check the instrument’s specifications.
MT5 charts can be constructed from bid prices or, for suitable instruments, last-traded prices. A candle therefore does not necessarily display both sides of the executable quote.
This difference also helps explain why a forex trade can show a loss immediately after opening.
A simple example: the ask reaches your sell stop
Imagine you hold a EUR/USD sell position with a stop loss at 1.10500.
At a particular moment, the quote is:
| Bid | 1.10480 | Below the stop level |
| Ask | 1.10500 | Reaches the sell stop |
| Spread | 0.00020 | Two pips on EUR/USD |
| Sell stop loss | 1.10500 | Trigger level |
These are invented figures for explanation, not SmartFIN quotes or a trade recommendation.
The ask reaches the stop level, but a bid-based candle may remain below it. The position can therefore be stopped while the visible candle appears not to touch the line.
A changing spread can make this difference more noticeable. When reviewing a trade, use the spread at the relevant time rather than assuming it matched the spread you saw earlier. For related context, read why XAU/USD spreads can be high.
Check the record before drawing a conclusion
First, confirm whether the position was a buy or a sell. Then check the exact symbol, account server and closing time. Another broker’s chart may use a different feed; a chart with a similar symbol name is not necessarily the same instrument.
On MT5 desktop, right-click the chart, select Properties, open Show, and enable Show Ask price line. You can also display trade levels and trade history.
The ask line shows the latest ask quote. Switching it on after a trade closes does not reconstruct historical ask candles or prove what the ask was at the trigger time.
Review the relevant orders and deals in Toolbox → History. Record the ticket numbers, stop level, closing time and actual execution price. MT5 links orders, deals and positions through their identifiers, helping you trace the transaction.
If the explanation remains unclear, ask the broker for the bid–ask tick data around that time and the recorded reason for closure. Provide the ticket number and use the platform’s server time.
The trigger price and closing price are separate
A stop level determines when the closing instruction activates. It does not necessarily guarantee the final execution price. Available prices and execution conditions matter, particularly during gaps or rapid movement.
MT5 supports different execution arrangements, and the applicable broker policy should explain how orders are handled.
Read SmartFIN’s guide to trade execution on MT5 alongside your account’s execution terms.
A candle missing your stop line does not, by itself, establish an execution error. Equally, “it was the spread” should be supported by the relevant records.
Before changing your next trade, establish which price triggered the stop and how the closing deal was executed.
Need help locating your MT5 trade records? Contact SmartFIN’s support team with the relevant ticket details.
This article provides general education, not investment advice. Forex and CFDs involve significant risk, particularly when leverage is used.
