{"id":52842,"date":"2025-11-13T12:42:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T12:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/?p=52842"},"modified":"2025-11-16T07:22:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T07:22:36","slug":"what-is-a-wide-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/what-is-a-wide-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Spread Widening? Causes of Increased Spread (Wide Spread)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"712\">One of the key questions forex traders often ask is about the reasons behind spread widening, or in other words, the increase in spread. The spread is one of the fundamental concepts in financial markets, representing the difference between the Ask (sell price) and the Bid (buy price) of an asset. This concept is particularly important in forex trading because it directly affects trading costs and can serve as an important indicator of market liquidity.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"714\" data-end=\"822\">In this article, we will examine the concept of Wide Spread and the factors that cause it. Stay with us.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"829\" data-end=\"865\"><\/h2>\n<h2><strong data-start=\"832\" data-end=\"865\">How Is the Spread Determined?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-52855\" src=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Spread-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1428\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"867\" data-end=\"1189\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/forex-spread-explained\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">spread<\/a> is a core concept in financial markets and refers to the gap between the Bid price (the highest price buyers are willing to pay) and the Ask price (the lowest price sellers are willing to accept). In practice, this difference is effectively the fee a trader pays when entering or exiting a position.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1553\">In the forex market, the spread shows the price at which buyers are willing to buy an asset and the price at which sellers are ready to sell it.<br data-start=\"1335\" data-end=\"1338\" \/>For example, if the highest Bid is $9 and the lowest Ask is $10.5, then the spread is $1.5.<br data-start=\"1441\" data-end=\"1444\" \/>Generally, the larger the number of orders and the higher the market liquidity, the lower the spread becomes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1555\" data-end=\"2007\">A very important point: everything mentioned above is only valid when you work with a regulated and reputable broker. A reliable broker reflects real market prices and sets spreads based on market depth and liquidity. However, with an unregulated or unreliable broker, prices and orders may be artificially manipulated\u2014such as unfairly increasing spreads, delaying order execution, or causing slippage, all of which harm the trader. Therefore, choosing a regulated and trustworthy broker is the first condition for ensuring spread transparency and fair execution.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2146\" data-end=\"2200\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"2146\" data-end=\"2200\"><strong data-start=\"2149\" data-end=\"2200\">What Is Spread Widening and Why Does It Happen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2202\" data-end=\"2464\">Every asset has a normal and expected spread. However, sometimes the spread may increase significantly. This phenomenon is called spread widening (Wide Spread)\u2014a situation in which the difference between the Bid and Ask prices becomes abnormally large. This condition usually signals reduced liquidity and increased market volatility.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2562\" data-end=\"2617\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"2562\" data-end=\"2617\"><strong data-start=\"2565\" data-end=\"2617\">Factors That Cause Spread Widening (Wide Spread)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2619\" data-end=\"2686\">The most important factors contributing to spread widening include:<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2718\"><strong data-start=\"2692\" data-end=\"2716\">1) Market Volatility<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2719\" data-end=\"2910\">Sharp price fluctuations can lead to spread widening. During highly volatile periods, traders tend to act more cautiously and cancel <a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/forex-order-types\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">pending orders<\/a>, reducing liquidity and increasing spreads.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2912\" data-end=\"2947\"><strong data-start=\"2916\" data-end=\"2945\">2) Economic &amp; News Events<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"3159\">Major economic announcements\u2014such as unemployment data, inflation reports, and central bank decisions\u2014can significantly widen spreads.<br data-start=\"3082\" data-end=\"3085\" \/>Similar to the previous case, increased risk leads to decreased liquidity.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3161\" data-end=\"3190\"><strong data-start=\"3165\" data-end=\"3188\">3) Market Liquidity<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3191\" data-end=\"3401\">Liquidity refers to the volume of buy and sell activity in the market.<br data-start=\"3261\" data-end=\"3264\" \/>Markets with high liquidity generally have lower spreads, while those with low liquidity are more vulnerable to widening spreads.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3432\"><strong data-start=\"3407\" data-end=\"3430\">4) Trading Sessions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3433\" data-end=\"3530\">Spread levels vary throughout the trading day because liquidity is not constant.<br data-start=\"3513\" data-end=\"3516\" \/>For example:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3752\">\n<li data-start=\"3531\" data-end=\"3625\">\n<p data-start=\"3533\" data-end=\"3625\">During market open and market close, spreads typically widen due to low liquidity.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3752\">\n<p data-start=\"3628\" data-end=\"3752\">During the <a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/forex-trading-sessions\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">London and New York sessions<\/a>, spreads usually reach their lowest levels because liquidity is at its peak.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3754\" data-end=\"3844\">Recommendation: To reduce trading costs, trade during the London or New York sessions.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3851\" data-end=\"3908\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"3851\" data-end=\"3908\"><strong data-start=\"3854\" data-end=\"3908\">Spread Widening Across Different Financial Markets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-52860\" src=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Spread-Wide2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1428\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3910\" data-end=\"3935\"><strong data-start=\"3914\" data-end=\"3933\">1) Forex Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3936\" data-end=\"4095\">Spread widening in forex often occurs during periods of high volatility or low liquidity. Major news releases and political events can strongly affect spreads.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4097\" data-end=\"4122\"><strong data-start=\"4101\" data-end=\"4120\">2) Stock Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4123\" data-end=\"4279\">In the stock market, spreads commonly widen during opening and closing hours. Quarterly earnings reports and important economic news can also widen spreads.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4281\" data-end=\"4315\"><strong data-start=\"4285\" data-end=\"4313\">3) Cryptocurrency Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4316\" data-end=\"4502\">The crypto market is highly volatile; therefore, spreads can change dramatically. Major economic events or sudden market manipulation (often by whales) can significantly widen spreads.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"4509\" data-end=\"4552\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"4509\" data-end=\"4552\"><strong data-start=\"4512\" data-end=\"4552\">How Does Wide Spread Affect Traders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4554\" data-end=\"4654\">Wide spreads increase trading costs and negatively affect profitability.<br data-start=\"4626\" data-end=\"4629\" \/>Its main impacts include:<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4656\" data-end=\"4696\"><strong data-start=\"4660\" data-end=\"4694\">1) Higher Entry and Exit Costs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4697\" data-end=\"4785\">As spreads widen, the cost of opening and closing trades increases, reducing net profit.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4787\" data-end=\"4827\"><strong data-start=\"4791\" data-end=\"4825\">2) Lower Probability of Profit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4828\" data-end=\"4944\">Since the spread is part of the cost, the market must move <strong data-start=\"4887\" data-end=\"4908\">beyond the spread<\/strong> for the trade to become profitable.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4946\" data-end=\"4990\"><strong data-start=\"4950\" data-end=\"4988\">3) Unexpected Stop-Loss Activation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4991\" data-end=\"5081\">High spreads can trigger stop-loss orders unexpectedly, causing trades to close at a loss.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5083\" data-end=\"5226\">Overall, spread widening means higher trading costs, lower profitability, and increased risk\u2014mainly due to low liquidity and market volatility.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5228\" data-end=\"5352\"><strong data-start=\"5228\" data-end=\"5254\">To reduce these risks:<\/strong><br data-start=\"5254\" data-end=\"5257\" \/>Avoid trading when spreads are high and always use risk-management tools like stop-loss orders.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"5359\" data-end=\"5434\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"5359\" data-end=\"5434\"><strong data-start=\"5362\" data-end=\"5434\">Which Symbols Experience the Highest Overnight Spread Increases?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5436\" data-end=\"5562\">In forex, spreads typically widen the most at night in instruments with <strong data-start=\"5508\" data-end=\"5525\">low liquidity<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"5530\" data-end=\"5552\">low trading volume<\/strong>, such as:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"5564\" data-end=\"5843\">\n<li data-start=\"5564\" data-end=\"5652\">\n<p data-start=\"5566\" data-end=\"5652\"><strong data-start=\"5566\" data-end=\"5582\">Exotic pairs<\/strong>: USDTRY, EURZAR \u2014 due to low transaction volume and high volatility<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5653\" data-end=\"5748\">\n<p data-start=\"5655\" data-end=\"5748\"><strong data-start=\"5655\" data-end=\"5670\">Minor pairs<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/chart\/audnzd\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">AUDNZD<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/chart\/gbpcad\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">GBPCAD<\/a> \u2014 noticeable overnight widening, but less than exotic pairs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5749\" data-end=\"5843\">\n<p data-start=\"5751\" data-end=\"5843\"><strong data-start=\"5751\" data-end=\"5784\">Low-volume stocks and indices<\/strong> \u2014 significantly wider spreads outside main trading hours<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"5845\" data-end=\"5972\">In contrast, <strong data-start=\"5858\" data-end=\"5873\">major pairs<\/strong> like EURUSD and USDJPY experience the least overnight spread widening due to their deep liquidity.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"5979\" data-end=\"6038\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"5979\" data-end=\"6038\"><strong data-start=\"5982\" data-end=\"6038\">Which Brokers Experience Spread Widening More Often?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"6040\" data-end=\"6165\">Spread widening can occur for many reasons, but some brokers are more vulnerable due to structural or operational weaknesses:<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6167\" data-end=\"6199\"><strong data-start=\"6171\" data-end=\"6197\">1. Unregulated Brokers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"6200\" data-end=\"6293\">They may intentionally increase spreads at certain times to extract more profit from clients.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6295\" data-end=\"6345\"><strong data-start=\"6299\" data-end=\"6343\">2. Brokers With Weak Liquidity Providers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"6346\" data-end=\"6432\">Without strong liquidity connections, spreads widen sharply during low-volume periods.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6434\" data-end=\"6467\"><strong data-start=\"6438\" data-end=\"6465\">3. Market Maker Brokers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"6468\" data-end=\"6562\">These brokers process orders internally and are more affected by low-volume market conditions.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6564\" data-end=\"6621\"><strong data-start=\"6568\" data-end=\"6621\">Signs of Problematic Brokers (regarding spreads):<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"6622\" data-end=\"6894\">\n<li data-start=\"6622\" data-end=\"6658\">\n<p data-start=\"6624\" data-end=\"6658\">Lack of international regulation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"6659\" data-end=\"6701\">\n<p data-start=\"6661\" data-end=\"6701\">Low transparency in spread disclosures<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"6702\" data-end=\"6762\">\n<p data-start=\"6704\" data-end=\"6762\">Abnormally inconsistent spreads even during calm markets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"6763\" data-end=\"6811\">\n<p data-start=\"6765\" data-end=\"6811\">Slow execution during low-liquidity sessions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"6812\" data-end=\"6894\">\n<p data-start=\"6814\" data-end=\"6894\">Unrealistic marketing claims like \u201czero spread\u201d without disclosing commissions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"6901\" data-end=\"6948\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-start=\"6901\" data-end=\"6948\"><strong data-start=\"6904\" data-end=\"6948\">Which Brokers Have Less Spread Widening?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-52865\" src=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Trendo1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1428\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6950\" data-end=\"7188\">Brokers using <strong data-start=\"6964\" data-end=\"6971\">ECN<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"6975\" data-end=\"6982\">STP<\/strong> execution have lower and more stable spreads because they route trades directly to liquidity providers. Their transparent pricing and access to interbank markets reduce the likelihood of spread widening. One notable broker with consistently low spreads among traders is <a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong data-start=\"7264\" data-end=\"7289\">Trendo Broker<\/strong><\/a>. Trendo serves <strong data-start=\"7305\" data-end=\"7341\">over one million users worldwide<\/strong>, holds <strong data-start=\"7349\" data-end=\"7377\">FSC Mauritius regulation<\/strong>, and is registered in <strong data-start=\"7400\" data-end=\"7436\">Armenia, the UK, and Saint Lucia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"7444\" data-end=\"7483\"><\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"7444\" data-end=\"7483\"><strong data-start=\"7448\" data-end=\"7483\">Key Advantages of Trendo Broker<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"7485\" data-end=\"8057\">\n<li data-start=\"7485\" data-end=\"7567\">\n<p data-start=\"7487\" data-end=\"7567\"><strong data-start=\"7487\" data-end=\"7516\">Zero or near-zero spreads<\/strong>: Major pairs like EURUSD often show a 0.0 spread<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7568\" data-end=\"7660\">\n<p data-start=\"7570\" data-end=\"7660\"><strong data-start=\"7570\" data-end=\"7597\">Minimal spread widening<\/strong> thanks to advanced technology and strong liquidity providers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7661\" data-end=\"7745\">\n<p data-start=\"7663\" data-end=\"7745\"><strong data-start=\"7663\" data-end=\"7688\">$100 No-Deposit Bonus<\/strong> for new users to start trading without initial funding<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7746\" data-end=\"7814\">\n<p data-start=\"7748\" data-end=\"7814\"><strong data-start=\"7748\" data-end=\"7778\">Low minimum deposit of $10<\/strong>, making global markets accessible<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7815\" data-end=\"7913\">\n<p data-start=\"7817\" data-end=\"7913\"><strong data-start=\"7817\" data-end=\"7858\">Advanced proprietary trading platform<\/strong> with high-speed execution and an intuitive interface<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"7914\" data-end=\"8006\">\n<p data-start=\"7916\" data-end=\"8006\"><strong data-start=\"7916\" data-end=\"7949\">Easy deposits and withdrawals<\/strong>: including local methods, crypto, Visa, and Mastercard<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"8007\" data-end=\"8057\">\n<p data-start=\"8009\" data-end=\"8057\"><strong data-start=\"8009\" data-end=\"8055\">24\/7 professional language support<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"8064\" data-end=\"8157\"><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"8064\" data-end=\"8157\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/platforms\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong data-start=\"8067\" data-end=\"8157\">Download the Trendo Trading Platform and Trade With the Lowest Spreads and Commissions<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"8164\" data-end=\"8181\"><strong data-start=\"8167\" data-end=\"8181\">Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"8183\" data-end=\"8543\">In this article, we examined the concept of spread widening, its causes\u2014such as market volatility, news events, and low liquidity\u2014and how it appears across different financial markets.<br data-start=\"8371\" data-end=\"8374\" \/>We also highlighted the importance of trading sessions and the role of choosing the right broker, such as Trendo, in reducing trading costs and improving efficiency.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"8545\" data-end=\"8611\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fxtrendo.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong data-start=\"8545\" data-end=\"8611\">Register now with Trendo Broker and receive a free $100 bonus!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We will examine the reasons behind spread widening \u2014 or the increase in spread \u2014 in this article. Stay with us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":52870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"fxtrendo_post_editor":0,"_featured_order":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-financial-markets-tutorials","category-basic-financial-markets-tutorials"],"acf":[],"fxtrendo_editor":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fa.fxtrendo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}