What is a Requote in Forex? A Complete Guide for Kenya Traders (2026)

What Exactly is a Requote?

A requote happens when you place a market order, but the broker's price has changed before your order is executed. Instead of automatically filling your trade at the new price (slippage), the broker sends you a request to confirm the new price. You can either accept or reject it. This is common in volatile markets or during news events.

How Requotes Work in Practice

Imagine you want to buy EUR/USD at 1.1000. You click 'buy,' but by the time your order reaches the broker, the price has moved to 1.1002. The broker sends a requote: 'New price is 1.1002. Accept?' If you accept, you enter at 1.1002, which means you pay 2 pips more. For a Kenya trader depositing KES 50,000 via M-Pesa, that extra 2 pips could mean KES 100–200 lost on a standard lot, depending on leverage.

Why Requotes Matter for Kenya Traders

Kenya traders often use mobile platforms with variable internet connectivity. A weak signal can delay your order, increasing the chance of a requote. Additionally, many local brokers offer high leverage, which magnifies the impact of requotes. If you are trading with KES, every pip counts, and requotes can turn a winning trade into a loss. Also, if you deposit via M-Pesa, you may have limited funds, so requotes reduce your buying power.

For Kenya traders, requotes are especially relevant because of the popularity of mobile trading. Most traders use smartphones with platforms like MetaTrader 4 or cTrader, often on 3G/4G networks. Network latency can cause requotes. Additionally, M-Pesa deposits are instant but withdrawals may take time, so requotes can affect your ability to exit trades quickly. USDT deposits (via Binance or local exchanges) also have processing delays that can lead to requotes if you trade immediately after funding. Bank transfers are slower, so timing your trades after funding is critical. The CMA requires brokers to have fair execution policies, but not all brokers are regulated. Always choose a CMA-licensed broker to ensure transparency on requotes.

1. Check Your Broker's Execution Type
   Before depositing via M-Pesa, confirm if your broker uses instant execution or market execution. Instant execution reduces requotes because orders are filled at the quoted price or rejected.
2. Use Limit Orders Instead of Market Orders
   Limit orders only execute at your specified price or better, avoiding requotes. This is useful when trading volatile pairs like GBP/JPY.
3. Avoid Trading During Major News Events
   News releases like US Non-Farm Payrolls cause high volatility. Trade during quieter sessions like the London open to reduce requote risk.
4. Test Your Internet Connection
   Use a stable 4G or fiber connection. Avoid trading on public Wi-Fi or during peak hours when network congestion is high.

Requotes are often compared to slippage. Slippage happens automatically, while requotes require your confirmation. For Kenya traders, requotes can be more stressful because you must act quickly on a mobile screen. Slippage is faster but can be larger. Both are common in volatile markets. ECN accounts typically have fewer requotes but may have higher commissions. Market maker brokers may have more requotes because they fill orders internally. Choose based on your trading style.

When you place a market order in forex, your broker attempts to fill it at the current price. However, if the market moves before your order is processed, the broker may send a requote. For example, you want to sell USD/KES at 150.00. The broker's price shifts to 150.02, and you receive a requote asking if you accept 150.02. In Kenya, where mobile trading is popular, network delays can cause requotes. The process involves: 1) You send an order, 2) Broker checks price, 3) If price changed, broker sends requote, 4) You accept or reject. This can happen in milliseconds, but on slower connections, it may take seconds.

Example 1: A Kenya trader deposits KES 100,000 via M-Pesa and wants to buy EUR/USD at 1.1000. Due to high volatility, the broker sends a requote at 1.1005. The trader accepts, entering at a worse price by 5 pips. If they trade 0.1 lots, that's a cost of KES 500 (assuming 1 pip = KES 100). Example 2: Another trader uses a limit order to buy GBP/USD at 1.2500. The market drops to 1.2500, and the order executes without a requote because the broker filled it at the specified price. This shows how limit orders avoid requotes.

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in Kenya regulates forex brokers under the Capital Markets Act. Licensed brokers must adhere to fair trading practices, including transparent order execution. While the CMA does not specifically mandate how requotes are handled, brokers must disclose their execution policy in the client agreement. If you face unfair requotes, you can lodge a complaint with the CMA. Always check the CMA's list of authorized brokers before depositing via M-Pesa or bank transfer. Unregulated brokers may not have any requote policy, putting your funds at risk.

• Use a VPS for Automated Trading: If you use Expert Advisors (EAs), a Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosted near your broker's server reduces latency and requotes.
• Monitor Spreads: Requotes often happen when spreads widen. Check spread history during your trading hours (e.g., during the London session) to avoid surprises.
• Set Slippage Tolerance: In your platform settings, set a slippage tolerance (e.g., 2–3 pips) to allow automatic execution at a slightly worse price instead of a requote.
• Trade Liquid Pairs: Major pairs like EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and GBP/USD have higher liquidity, reducing requote frequency compared to exotic pairs like USD/KES.
• Use Demo Account First: Test your broker's execution speed and requote frequency on a demo account funded with virtual M-Pesa before going live.

Requotes are a normal part of forex trading, but they can be minimized with the right strategy. For Kenya traders, using a CMA-regulated broker, trading on a stable internet connection, and choosing limit orders can reduce requote frequency. Remember that every pip counts when trading with KES, so understanding requotes helps you protect your capital. Start by testing your broker's execution on a demo account, then apply these tips to your live trading. For more educational content, explore our guides on forex basics for Kenya traders.