Short answer
OTC (over-the-counter) assets are price feeds the broker creates when the real market is closed, mainly at weekends and at night for stocks. They look like normal charts but do not come from the interbank market or an exchange, so news and real-market analysis do not apply to them in the usual way.
Why OTC exists
The forex market closes on Friday evening New York time and reopens on Sunday evening. Stock exchanges close every night. Traders still want to trade, so brokers offer OTC versions of popular assets: EUR/USD OTC, Apple OTC and so on.
How OTC differs from the real market
| Real market | OTC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price source | Interbank quotes or exchange | Broker’s own feed |
| News impact | Economic data moves price | Real news may not apply |
| Hours | Market hours only | Usually 24/7 |
| Independent check | Compare with other sources | Not possible |
What this means for you
- Do not trade news on OTC. The real EUR/USD may move on a data release while the OTC price does not.
- Track results separately. Keep OTC trades in a separate column of your journal. A method that works on the real market may not work on OTC, and the reverse.
- Watch the payout. OTC assets sometimes pay less. Check it against the break-even table.
To see when the real market is open in your time zone, use the market hours clock.
FAQ
Are OTC assets rigged?
We cannot see inside a broker's pricing engine, and neither can you. What is certain is that the broker sets the price, so it is not an independent market. Treat OTC results with extra caution.
When are OTC assets available?
Typically from Friday evening to Sunday evening New York time for forex, and outside exchange hours for stocks.
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