Reading a broker statement
Decode every line item on a typical broker statement.
Lesson path
Market Foundations + Forex Mechanics
The Basics
Pass the check before saving this lesson.
Pass the check to unlock nextOpen track mapChange starting pointToday's tiny win: make one idea click.
Decode every line item on a typical broker statement.
Your statement is the receipt
A broker statement shows what actually happened in the account. It lists trades with entry, exit, size, and profit or loss. It also shows commissions, deposits, withdrawals, open positions, and end-of-period balance. If the chart is where you make decisions, the statement is where you check the truth.
Commissions are direct fees, often charged per lot or per side of the trade. Spread cost may not appear as a separate line because it can be baked into your entry and exit prices. Swaps, also called rollover, are overnight financing charges or credits. They do not only apply on weekends; they are tied to overnight rollover rules.
Profit and loss has two pieces: closed P&L from trades you already exited, and unrealized P&L from positions still open. A useful review breaks performance down by pair, day, session, and setup. Many accounts are carried by one or two strong pairs while the rest quietly drain money.
Recap: read trades, size, P&L, commissions, swaps, deposits, withdrawals, open positions, and balance. Your statement tells you what your trading is really doing.
Knowledge check
Answer before moving on.
1. What is closed P&L?
2. What are swaps or rollover on a broker statement?
3. What is a better review habit than only checking the ending balance?
Pass the check before saving.
Use the knowledge check first. After you pass it, this card turns into the save-and-continue handoff.