The most common reason is that the chart shows the bid price by default, but your orders on sell positions trigger on the other side of the quote. For a sell position, the closing price is the ask — which sits above the bid line on your chart by the width of the spread.
Which price triggers my Stop Loss or Take Profit
Position | Opened at | Closed at |
Buy | Ask price | Bid price |
Sell | Bid price | Ask price |
The spread is the difference between the Ask and Bid prices.
Why does the chart appear to reach my level without triggering the position
On a chart displaying Bid prices, the Ask price is higher by the current spread.
For sell positions:
- Take Profit: The Bid may reach your Take Profit while the Ask remains above it, so Take Profit has not triggered.
- Stop Loss: The Ask may reach your SL while the Bid remains below it, causing the SL to trigger before the chart appears to reach it.
On MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5) desktop, right-click the chart, select Properties, and enable Show Ask line to view both prices.
Will my Stop Loss and Take Profit levels change automatically
No. Your Stop Loss (SL) and Take Profit (TP) remain at the price levels you set.
- The rollover price change may move these levels closer to or further from the current price.
- A Stop Loss or Take Profit may be triggered because of the price change.
- Review your settings before and after rollover and adjust them where appropriate.
Can a wider spread affect Stop Loss and Take Profit triggering
Yes. Spreads may widen around news announcements, daily rollover, or market reopening.
- A wider spread increases the difference between Bid and Ask.
- For sell positions, the Ask may reach a Stop Loss or remain above a Take Profit even when the Bid chart suggests otherwise.
- Check the relevant triggering price rather than relying on the chart alone.
What happens if the market gaps past my level
A gap occurs when prices move between levels without available quotes in between.
- A stop loss may execute at the next available market price rather than the specified level.
- Take Profit execution depends on the applicable order rules and available prices.
- The specified level does not guarantee execution at that exact price.
Can Stop Loss and Take Profit trigger while the market is closed
No. They require available prices during the product’s trading hours.
If the market reopens beyond your level, execution depends on the opening prices and applicable order rules.
Does a disconnected platform stop my Stop Loss or Take Profit from working
Stop Loss and Take Profit instructions successfully stored on the trading server remain active when your platform disconnects.
- The prices displayed on your device may be outdated.
- Check the connection indicator and reconnect to view current prices and trade status.
What should I check before requesting a review
- Enable Show Ask line and check which side of the quote your order triggers on.
- Reopen the Modify or Delete Order window and confirm the level is still stored.
- Check that the market for that product was open at the time.
- Check the connection indicator in the bottom-right corner.
- Check the Journal tab for any rejected modification.
Risk Warning
Trading Contracts for Difference ("CFDs") and other leveraged financial derivatives involve a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can magnify both gains and losses, and you may lose all of your invested capital. You should ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading.
The information provided on this website is for general information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument.