Rollover hour on MT5: why spreads explode around 23:00 server time
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2026 10:47 pm
Around the daily rollover, usually midnight server time (22:00 or 23:00 London), spreads widen sharply on most brokers. Understanding why helps avoid problems.
What happens:
Swap rates are also shown in the symbol specification, so it's worth checking them once even if trades rarely stay open past rollover.
Have you been caught by rollover?
What happens:
- Liquidity providers close their trading day, settle positions and update prices.
- Many pull quotes or widen them for a few minutes.
- Swaps are applied to open positions.
- stops may be hit by the stretched ask or bid.
- Pending orders can fill at bad prices.
- Spreads of several pips on majors are common for a few minutes.
- No open scalps across rollover.
- Pending orders cancelled before it, or placed far enough away.
- EA trading paused for 15 minutes either side.
Swap rates are also shown in the symbol specification, so it's worth checking them once even if trades rarely stay open past rollover.
Have you been caught by rollover?