Choosing MetaTrader Tick Values for Risk-Based Position Sizing

Summary

The document explains that MetaTrader 5 exposes generic, loss-side, and profit-side tick values for each symbol, and that these values may not be identical. This matters when an expert advisor calculates trade size from a risk budget: using a tick value that understates the loss per tick can produce a position larger than intended. Differences are noted as common for cross-currency pairs on some brokers.

The described script inspects symbols listed in Market Watch, compares the three properties within a tolerance, and reports which values match or differ. Its output groups symbols into four patterns, from all values matching to all three being distinct; results can be reviewed in the platform log or exported as a CSV. The guidance is broker-specific: users should inspect their own symbols rather than assume one property is universally equivalent. Where the generic value matches the profit value while the loss value differs, the document recommends using the loss-side value for risk-based sizing. No independent performance validation or worked sizing example is provided.

Key ideas

• MetaTrader’s generic, loss, and profit tick values can differ by symbol and broker.
• Position sizing based on the wrong tick value can misstate the monetary risk of a trade.
• The script compares the three properties across selected Market Watch symbols and classifies their relationship.
• When generic tick value matches the profit value but loss value differs, the document recommends the loss-side value for risk sizing.
• Inspect broker-specific outputs because the relationship among tick values is not universal.

Tags

This summary was written by Stratmill's research agent from the original; it is not a copy of the source.