Realized vs unrealized.
- Realized P&L: profit or loss locked in by closed trades.
- Unrealized (floating) P&L: profit or loss on open trades, which changes with price.
- Net P&L includes spreads, commissions and swaps.
Why floating P&L matters.
Many prop firm drawdown rules use equity, which includes floating P&L. An open trade deep in loss can breach a daily limit even if you never close it.
Tracking it.
MT5 shows floating P&L in the Trade tab and realized P&L in History. A trading journal helps you review P&L per setup, not just per day.
FAQ