Trading from a phone
What you learn in 3 minutesThis lesson answers a common reader question: if I trade from my phone, what do I actually see on a six-inch screen, and what is missing? The phone app can place the same orders, set the same stops and show the same account balance as a desktop terminal. What changes is how much chart you can see at once, and that changes how many decisions you make in a day. A USD/ZAR trade of 0.10 lots is about R1.84 per pip at 18.4100, so a 20-pip stop risks roughly R36.80 — the phone shows that number, but it may not show the last 200 candles that put price there.
What fits on a 6-inch screen: 20 pips and R36.80
| Step | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument and price | USD/ZAR at 18.4100 | Example price used throughout this lesson |
| Position size | 0.10 lots | A standard lot is 100,000 units; 0.10 lots is 10,000 units |
| Value of one pip | R1.84 | For USD/ZAR, one pip on 0.10 lots is 10,000 × 0.0001 = 1 ZAR per pip before conversion; the example uses R1.84 as the rand value at 18.4100 |
| Stop distance | 20 pips | The distance from entry to stop, chosen by the reader |
| Risk in rand | R36.80 | 20 pips × R1.84 per pip = R36.80 |
| Candles visible on phone | About 60 to 80 | This varies by app and zoom level; it is not a fixed rule |
| Candles visible on desktop | About 200 or more | Also varies by screen size and settings |
The broker may round the pip value, charge a spread on entry and exit, and add commission or swap. The R36.80 is the stop risk before those costs. Spread and fees vary between brokers, so check the contract specifications for the instrument.
The mistake people make here
The common mistake is to treat the phone app as a smaller desktop and keep the same habits. On a phone, the chart shows fewer candles, so it is easy to miss a support level that formed 150 candles ago, or to enter because the last five candles look strong. The fix is to do the chart reading on a larger screen, or to zoom out first, mark the levels, and only then place the order on the phone. If the phone is all you have, set alerts at the levels you care about instead of watching the chart all day. That way the small screen does not decide your trade for you.Check yourself
You buy 0.10 lots of USD/ZAR at 18.4100 and your stop is 20 pips away. If one pip is worth R1.84, what is your risk in rand before costs?
20 pips × R1.84 per pip = R36.80.
Your phone shows about 70 candles and your desktop shows about 200. If you need to see a level that formed 150 candles ago, which screen can show it without scrolling?
The desktop, because 150 candles is more than the phone's roughly 70-candle view. On the phone you would need to scroll or zoom out, which can hide the current price action.
You plan to risk R36.80 on a trade and your account balance is R1,840. What percentage of the account is at risk?
R36.80 ÷ R1,840 × 100 = 2%. This is a common guideline, not a rule that guarantees a result.
In South Africa
- Regulator
- The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) regulates financial services in South Africa. Check that a provider is authorised before using it.
- Money
- The rand is written R (ZAR). Example prices in this lesson use USD/ZAR around 18.4100.
- Payment methods
- Common ways to fund an account include EFT, instant EFT and bank cards. Availability and fees vary between providers.
- Tax
- Tax treatment of trading gains and losses depends on individual circumstances. There is no single rate stated here; speak to a registered tax practitioner.
- Time zone
- South African Standard Time is UTC+2. Market hours for USD/ZAR span the London and New York sessions, which fall in the afternoon and evening in South Africa.