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Markets & Instruments

OTC

Intermediate

Also calledover the counter

Trading directly between parties through dealers, with no single central exchange.

What it means

Spot forex is OTC, so each dealer quotes its own prices. That is why two brokers' EUR/USD charts can differ by a fraction.

In practice

In an OTC market you trade with a dealer or broker at the price they quote, instead of with an anonymous counterparty on an exchange. Spot forex, most CFDs and many bonds work this way.

The practical effects are that prices and spreads vary between providers, there is no complete record of volume, and your contract is with the firm you trade through.

What to watch for

Your protection depends on the dealer: its regulation, its financial strength and how it executes orders. The volume shown on an OTC chart is that broker's own activity or a count of price changes, not the whole market.

Entrix Academy

Learn these terms step by step, one lesson free

Entrix Academy is the trading course inside EntrixAlgo. It teaches the ideas in this glossary with interactive lessons, practice and a final exam. It is part of Pro, and a free account opens one lesson of your choice.

  • 129 lessons, start anywhere
  • Practice on every lesson
  • Final exam and certificate