📊 Get Spread (in Points)¶

Convenience method: retrieves the current spread for a symbol in points. Essential for understanding trading costs and slippage.

API Information:

Sugar method: MT5Sugar.getSpread(String symbol)
Underlying method: MT5Account.symbolInfoInteger() with SYMBOL_SPREAD
Source: MT5Sugar convenience layer

🔽 Input¶

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`symbol`	`String`	✅	Symbol name (e.g., "EURUSD")

⬆️ Output¶

Returns: int - Current spread in points

Examples: - EURUSD: 10 points = 1 pip (on 5-digit broker) - USDJPY: 1 point = 1 pip (on 3-digit broker) - XAUUSD: 30 points = 0.30 (variable spread)

💬 Just the essentials¶

What it is. Difference between Ask and Bid in points.
Why you need it. Understand trading cost before placing orders.
Variable. Changes with market conditions (volatility, liquidity).
Trading cost. You pay spread on every market order entry.

🎯 Purpose¶

Use this method when you need to:

Check current trading costs before entering position.
Monitor spread for optimal entry timing.
Filter symbols with acceptable spreads.
Calculate total trade cost (spread + commission).

🔗 Usage Examples¶

1) Get current spread¶

int spread = sugar.getSpread("EURUSD");
System.out.printf("EURUSD spread: %d points%n", spread);
// Output: EURUSD spread: 10 points

2) Convert spread to pips¶

String symbol = "EURUSD";
int spreadPoints = sugar.getSpread(symbol);
double spreadPips = sugar.pointsToPips(symbol, spreadPoints);

System.out.printf("%s spread: %d points = %.1f pips%n",
    symbol, spreadPoints, spreadPips);
// Output: EURUSD spread: 10 points = 1.0 pips

3) Check if spread is acceptable¶

String symbol = "GBPUSD";
int spread = sugar.getSpread(symbol);
int maxAcceptableSpread = 20; // points

if (spread <= maxAcceptableSpread) {
    System.out.printf("✅ Spread OK: %d points%n", spread);
    // Safe to trade
    long ticket = sugar.buyMarket(symbol, 0.1, null, null);
} else {
    System.out.printf("⚠️ Spread too high: %d points (max: %d)%n",
        spread, maxAcceptableSpread);
    // Wait for better conditions
}

4) Monitor spreads across symbols¶

String[] symbols = {"EURUSD", "GBPUSD", "USDJPY", "XAUUSD"};

System.out.println("Current spreads:");
for (String symbol : symbols) {
    int spread = sugar.getSpread(symbol);
    double spreadPips = sugar.pointsToPips(symbol, spread);

    System.out.printf("  %s: %d points (%.1f pips)%n",
        symbol, spread, spreadPips);
}

// Output:
// Current spreads:
//   EURUSD: 10 points (1.0 pips)
//   GBPUSD: 15 points (1.5 pips)
//   USDJPY: 1 points (1.0 pips)
//   XAUUSD: 30 points (30.0 pips)

5) Calculate total trading cost¶

String symbol = "EURUSD";
double volume = 1.0; // 1 lot

// Get spread cost
int spread = sugar.getSpread(symbol);
double point = sugar.getPoint(symbol);
double[] tickData = sugar.getTickValueAndSize(symbol);
double tickValue = tickData[0];

// Calculate spread cost in account currency
double spreadCost = spread * point * tickValue;

System.out.printf("Trading cost for %s %.2f lot:%n", symbol, volume);
System.out.printf("  Spread: %d points%n", spread);
System.out.printf("  Cost: $%.2f per lot%n", spreadCost);

// Output:
// Trading cost for EURUSD 1.00 lot:
//   Spread: 10 points
//   Cost: $10.00 per lot

📌 Important Notes¶

Variable spread: Changes constantly based on:
Market volatility
Liquidity (spreads widen during news)
Time of day (wider during Asian session)
Broker type (fixed vs variable spread)
Points vs Pips:
5-digit EURUSD: 10 points = 1 pip
3-digit USDJPY: 1 point = 1 pip
Always check broker's precision
Trading impact:
Market orders: Pay spread immediately
Limit orders: May avoid spread if price moves favorably
Wide spreads: Increase required profit for breakeven
Best practices:
Check spread before trading
Avoid trading during high-spread periods (news events)
Set maximum acceptable spread threshold
Monitor spread patterns for your symbols

Typical spreads: - Major pairs (EURUSD, GBPUSD): 1-2 pips - Minor pairs (EURGBP): 2-3 pips - Exotic pairs (USDTRY): 10+ pips - Gold (XAUUSD): 0.20-0.50