Which broker has the tightest spreads during the Asian session?
Verdict
- No broker in our data publishes spreads by trading session, so nobody can prove the 'tightest in Asia'. Pepperstone is our pick for Asian-hours traders because it publishes averages on the instruments most active then, including USD/JPY and the JPN225, HK50 and AUS200 indices.
- Pepperstone's Razor averages: USD/JPY 0.3 pips; JPN225 7.4 points; HK50 5; AUS200 1.5. Index CFDs carry no commission.
- Test it yourself: record live spreads during Singapore's trading day for a week before committing.
- Singapore residents contract with Pepperstone's Bahamas entity; it is not MAS-licensed.
When Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney are open and London and New York are not, liquidity in some pairs thins and spreads can sit above their daily averages. Since brokers publish averages across the whole day, the honest answer is to pick a broker with low published averages on Asian instruments and then verify in your own hours.
Why Pepperstone suits Asian-hours trading
Pepperstone publishes average spreads for the pairs and indices Asian-session traders use, not only best-case minimums. It also offers an SGD base currency, Razor commission quoted in SGD (4.55 per side per lot), and 24/7 support according to its contact page, though other Pepperstone pages say 24 hours on weekdays and 18 at weekends. The trade-off: your account is with Pepperstone Markets Limited, licensed in the Bahamas (SIA-F217), not a Singapore-licensed company.
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Pepperstone's averages on Asian-session instruments
FX averages come from Pepperstone's pairs page; index figures are from its Australian index-fees page (August 2026 data).
| Instrument | Razor | Standard | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD/JPY | 0.3 pips avg | 1.3 pips avg | Razor: USD 3.50 per side (MT5) |
| JPN225 | 7.4 avg (7 min) | 9.4 avg (9 min) | None on index CFDs |
| HK50 | 5 avg | 5 avg | None on index CFDs |
| AUS200 | 1.5 avg (1 min) | 1.5 avg (1 min) | None on index CFDs |
Running your own Asian-session test
- Pick the three instruments you trade most.
- Record the live spread at fixed times, such as 9 am, noon and 3 pm Singapore time, for five trading days.
- Also record the spread just after the Tokyo open and around any Asian data release you trade.
- Average your readings and compare them with the published figures above.
- If your numbers sit well above the average, ask the broker which hours its average covers.
What about other brokers?
XS accepts Singapore residents and publishes a 0.1-pip EUR/USD average on its Elite account ($6 round-turn commission, $500 minimum), but nothing for USD/JPY or Asian indices in our data. MAS-licensed brokers such as IG, CMC Markets, OANDA and Saxo trade through Singapore companies; we have not verified their Asian-session or index spreads. Capital.com is not an option, as our broker data shows it does not accept Singapore residents.
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Sources
Pepperstone's published spreads and terms.
Are spreads wider in the Asian session?
They can be on pairs that trade mainly in London and New York hours. No broker in our data publishes session spreads, so test the instruments you trade.
Does Pepperstone charge commission on Asian indices?
No. Pepperstone charges no commission on index CFDs; the cost is in the spread.
Can I hold an SGD account at Pepperstone?
Yes. SGD is one of the base currencies on Pepperstone's international site.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Pepperstone's international site states that 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. This page is not investment advice; broker terms change, so confirm them on the broker's own site before opening an account.