Glossary
Scalping
Scalping is a fast trading style that takes many small, very short-term trades to profit from tiny price moves.
Scalping means opening and closing trades within seconds or minutes to capture small moves of just a few pips, often many times a day. Because each trade aims for a small gain, costs matter enormously: a wide spread or slippage can wipe out the edge.
Scalpers favour brokers with tight raw spreads and fast execution — see our IC Markets review and best MT4 brokers. Some brokers restrict scalping, so check the terms.
Scalping is demanding and high-risk; most retail traders lose money, and it’s not a shortcut to profit.
Related terms
Back to the full MT4 & forex glossary. Trading is high-risk — see our risk warning.