A pip (point in percentage), is the smallest movement a forex price can make, and is just as important to know, and manage, than the Dollars the trader can make.
A pip is a standardised unit, so we know we are talking about the same change in a price when we talk in pips.
A pip is usually quoted as one basis point, that is 1/100th of 1% (1% = 100 basis points).
A basis point is 0.01% (1/100th of a percent) or 0.0001 in decimal format.
Fx is quoted in decimal format for all currencies. So, a one point change in the 4th decimal (second decimal for JPY), is a one pip change.
Currencies are qouted to the 4th decimal, or more for fractional pips (pipettes), but JPY is qouted to the 2nd decimal (a 3rd decimal would be a fractional pip). Fifty pips = 500 pipettes.
Definitions
You will need to understand three definitions to handle the role of pips effectively in your trading:
- Pip: the smallest price movement a currency pair can make;
- Exchange rate: the price relation between two currencies at a given moment
See “Forex Trading Terms” for base and quote currency definitions and an explanation of pips; - Notional amount: the total value to which the trader is exposed based on the leverage used.
How to calculate pip value
The formula for calculating the value of a pip is:
- divide 1 pip in decimal form (0.0001) by the current exchange rate
- multiply by the value of your trade (the notional amount).
In the image, that will be:
1 / 0.85070 x 100 000 = 11,75 EUR
In the case of the EURUSD trade the value of a pip will be 9,39 EUR
Your exposure in the EURGBP trade will be 11,75 EUR for every pip the position move in your favour or against you.
That is why it is safer to start your trading with micro lots, which, in this example, will reduce your exposure to 0.1175 EUR per pip price movement. (It won’t make you rich, but, as this website aims to help you not lose money until such time as you trade profitably, we suggest you start real trading with micro lots.)
A lot is the standard unit in which a currency can be traded. There are 4 sizes of lots:
- Standard lot = 100 000 units;
- Mini = 10 000 units;
- Micro = 1000 units;
- Nano = 100 units.
Example:
A micro lot trade (0.01) of GBPUSD, will result in a profit or loss of $1 per 10 pips. Not fireworks, but affordable practice.
Calculate pips
Pip Calculator widget is provided by DailyForex.com – Forex Reviews and NewsIf you don’t mind the pips, you will lose the money.