Sub-minute trades: what to look for in broker terms

[FXS London Scalper]

Some brokers restrict very short trades. Reading the terms before scalping on a new account takes twenty minutes and can prevent a dispute.

What to search for in client agreements and order execution policies:

• "Minimum holding time" or "minimum duration".
• "Latency arbitrage", "abusive trading" or "toxic flow".
• "Scalping", which some agreements mention directly.
• Rules on trading around news.
• The broker's right to cancel or adjust trades, and under what conditions.

Typical patterns: many brokers allow scalping but prohibit latency arbitrage; some restrict trades under a set number of seconds; some only apply such rules to bonus accounts.

If something is unclear, ask support in writing. "Are trades held under 60 seconds allowed on this account type?" usually gets a direct answer, and you have it on record.

A practical tip: save a PDF of the terms on the day you open the account. Terms change, and the version you agreed to matters if there's a dispute.

What did you find when you read your broker's terms?