Partial close is a standard feature of the MetaTrader4 platform, allowing Customers to close a portion of the open positions manually by dividing the initial size of the lot into smaller parts.

This function gives Clients the opportunity to close a part of positions at different price levels, and also allows the Trader to fix a portion of the profit, leaving some of the open positions in the market, as the market moves further in the right direction.

Partial close is usually used, in order to reduce losses and increase profits.

Example of Partial Close of Positions

Let’s look at an example of partial closing of the trading position:

Imagine that a Trader opens a standard of 0.5 lot, the pair GBPUSD at the price of 1,62638 (#9399348).

Right after it in MT4 Trade tab he sees the rented commission in proportion to open volume.

Then the Trader decides to close the volume of 0.3 of a standard lot.

In the appeared window the Trader should enter the size of a lot, which would like to close and press “Close” button.

After the confirmation of transactions closed part of the position is fixed in the tab “Account history” with corresponding comments.

The remaining part of the order #9399348 (0,2 standard lot) again will reopen at 12:58 server time at the price 1,62638 (the price of opening of the order #9399348) with a new number #9399601.

The Commission is charged for 0.2 standard lot and is displayed in the column “Commission”.

The example given above shows how it works the partial closing, when a Client makes it manually.

However, the position can be closed partly in periods of low liquidity.

For example, if the level of TP (take profit) is reached, the position will be automatically closed partly because of the lack of liquidity.

Closing Positions Partially with Pending Orders

Let’s consider this case on an example.

A Client placed a Buy Order (#****847), 0.50 standard lots of AUD/USD at 1.04642, SL 1.04653 and TP 1.04730.

When the Best Bid price reached the TP level, the ECN market place did not have an exact matching counter-order.

In fact, at the moment when the TP level (1.04730) was reached, the ECN had a matching counter-order of 0.10 lots only, instead of the required 0.50 lots.

According to the Trading Platform features, the order was closed in full volume and the profit for 0.50 lots was added to the account balance.

The remaining 0.40 lots were re-opened at 1.4730 (exactly the closing price for #****847) with a new ticket number (#****983 ) and closed at the same price with zero profit when the Best Bid reached the TP level again.

In this example the ECN did not have a matching counter-order of 0.40 lots on the market to close the position in full again.

The following 3 orders: #****985, #****989, #****002 were re-opened/closed the same way.

So, one Buy Order of 0.50 standard lots was closed gradually by 5 orders as they were entered by other market participants.

Right after the Trader opens the order, in MT4 “Trade” tab he sees the round turn commission charged.

The re-opened order #****983 will remain open until the closing price 1. 04730 is reached. If the price goes in the opposite direction and the closing price cannot be reached, the Client will suffer loss.

Here you can see illustration of the above example;