MT5 Trading: Understanding Fees, Swaps, and Dividends

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When trading on MetaTrader 5 (MT5), understanding the full cost structure is essential for effective risk and capital management. Beyond just price movements and leverage, traders must account for commissions, swap fees, and dividend adjustments—all of which directly impact profitability. This guide breaks down each component clearly and provides practical examples to help you navigate MT5 trading with confidence.

Understanding MT5 Commissions

In Bybit’s MT5 environment, trading fees are referred to as commissions. These are charged per trade and vary depending on the contract type, leverage, and position size.

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Below is a summary of commission rates across different asset classes:

Forex & Precious Metals

Commodities & Oil

Indices

US Stock CFDs

Important Note: MT5 only checks your balance for margin requirements when opening a position—it does not verify if you have enough funds to cover commissions. Since commissions are deducted directly from your account balance, insufficient funds could trigger immediate liquidation.

How Commission Is Calculated

For most assets:

Commission = Number of lots × Commission per lot

Example 1: Index Trading (SP500)

A trader opens a long position of 0.20 lots on SP500 at 5475 and closes at 5480.

Commission = 0.20 × $3 = $0.60

Example 2: US Stock CFD (AAPL)

A trader buys 1 lot of AAPL at $210 and sells at $215.

Commission = 1 × $0.04 = $0.04

However, since the minimum commission is $5 per order**, the actual fee charged will be **$5.

For larger trades:

200 lots × $0.04 = $8 → This exceeds the $5 minimum, so $8 is charged.

Commission Display Logic in MT5

Unlike MT4, MT5 does not display commissions in the "Trade" tab. Instead, they appear only in the "History" tab.

To view detailed commission data:

  1. Right-click in the History tab
  2. Select "Orders and Deals"
  3. Review individual trade entries with fee breakdowns

This change improves interface clarity but requires traders to actively monitor their history for accurate cost tracking.

What Are Swap Fees?

Swap fees, also known as overnight or rollover charges, apply when a position is held past 00:00 server time (UTC+3, UTC+2 during daylight saving). These fees reflect the cost of carrying a leveraged position overnight and differ based on asset class.

Two Calculation Methods

1. Funding-Based (Indices)

Used for index contracts like DJ30 or SPX500:

Swap = Swap Rate × Lot Size × Holding Days

Example – DJ30 Long Position

2. Point-Based (Commodities, Forex, Metals, Oil)

Formula:

Swap = Lot Size × Contract Units × Tick Size × Swap Rate × Holding Days

Example – GAS-C (Gasoline), Short Position

Swap = 1 × 42,000 × 0.0001 × (-21.9) × 1 = -$91.98

👉 Discover how holding positions overnight affects your returns—plan smarter with swap-aware trading.

Three-Day Swap: What It Is and Why It Matters

Since financial markets are closed on weekends, swap fees for Saturday and Sunday are still accrued. To account for this, brokers apply a triple swap fee, commonly known as the "3-day swap", on specific weekdays.

When Is It Applied?

This aligns with the T+2 settlement convention—transactions made late in the week extend into the weekend, requiring additional funding costs.

Example – EURUSD Long Position

Holding through Wednesday night incurs a cost equivalent to three days.

Impact on Traders

Ignoring 3-day swaps can lead to unexpected deductions, especially in carry trades or long-term strategies. Always check:

Dividend Adjustments in Index CFDs

Index CFDs are affected by corporate actions such as dividend payouts from constituent companies. When dividends are distributed, your MT5 account undergoes an automatic adjustment.

What Is a Dividend?

A dividend is a portion of company profits paid to shareholders. Since indices represent baskets of stocks, dividend payments from underlying companies influence index pricing.

Brokers adjust CFD trader balances to reflect this economic impact and maintain fair market conditions.

How Dividend Adjustments Work

Long Positions (Buy)

If you hold a long position during a dividend event:

Short Positions (Sell)

If you hold a short position:

Example – Dividend Adjustment

Position TypeAdjustment
Long+$1 credited ($5 × 0.2)
Short-$1 debited ($5 × 0.2)
Adjustments occur automatically and only apply if you hold the position at the ex-dividend timestamp.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are commissions charged on both opening and closing trades?
A: Yes, commissions are applied when opening and closing a position—so round-trip trading incurs double the listed rate.

Q: Can I see real-time swap rates in MT5?
A: Yes—right-click any symbol in Market Watch → select Specifications → view "Swap Long" and "Swap Short" values.

Q: Do swap fees apply to all contract types?
A: Most do, but some brokers offer swap-free Islamic accounts. Standard MT5 accounts incur swaps unless otherwise specified.

Q: How can I avoid high swap costs?
A: Close positions before triple-swap days (e.g., Wednesday for forex), or use short-term strategies like scalping or day trading.

Q: Are dividend adjustments predictable?
A: Yes—most brokers publish upcoming dividend schedules monthly, allowing traders to plan accordingly.

Q: Is the server time fixed?
A: Bybit MT5 uses UTC+3 normally, switching to UTC+2 during daylight saving periods in certain regions.

Core Keywords

👉 Maximize your trading efficiency—track fees, swaps, and dividends like a pro with advanced tools and insights.