Why does my portfolio show a loss right after I buy an asset or convert USD?
A small loss right after you buy an asset or convert Rupiah into USD is normal, and it usually comes from the spread and the fees on the purchase, not from anything going wrong. You buy at the ask side of the spread, which sits above the mid price, but your portfolio values what you hold at the mid price, halfway between the buy and sell price. So straight after the purchase, your holding is valued slightly below what you paid, and any transaction fee widens that gap. The same happens with USD: you convert at the buy rate, while the portfolio values your dollars at the mid price, and the wallet page uses the lower sell price. The small unrealised loss narrows, or turns into a profit, if the price or the exchange rate moves in your favour. To see the cost of a trade in advance, check the buy price, sell price and fee breakdown shown before you confirm.
| Symptom / Condition | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| A small loss appears the moment a purchase completes | You bought at the ask side of the spread, while the portfolio values your holding at the mid price | No action needed. The gap is roughly half the spread and narrows if the price rises |
| The loss is a little bigger than the spread alone | Transaction fees on the purchase are part of what you paid, but not part of the asset's market value | Check the fee breakdown shown before you confirm your next order so you know the full cost in advance |
| The loss right after buying is larger on a thinly traded asset | Less liquid assets usually have wider spreads, so the gap between buy price and mid price is bigger | Compare the buy and sell prices before confirming; a wide gap means a higher cost to buy and sell |
| A large order shows a bigger loss than a small one would | A large order can fill across several price levels, so your average price ends up above the best quoted price | Consider splitting large orders or, where available, use a limit order to cap the price you pay |
| Your USD balance looks smaller in Rupiah right after converting | You converted at the buy rate; the portfolio uses the mid price and the wallet page uses the sell price, both lower than the buy rate | No action needed. The conversion fee of 0.25% plus 11% VAT on that fee also applies, as of September 2026 |
| The loss keeps growing after the purchase | The market price or exchange rate has moved against you since you bought | This is market movement rather than the spread; it reverses only if the price recovers |
If the issue persists:
If the loss shown right after a purchase is much larger than the spread and fees can explain, and the price hasn't moved, contact Pluang Care via live chat in the app, email tanya@pluang.com, or call (021) 8063 0065 (Monday–Friday, 09:00–18:00 WIB). Include the asset, the date and time of the purchase, the amount, and a screenshot of your portfolio.
Related questions:
Q: Is the loss right after buying real money I have lost?
It is an unrealised loss, which means it is not locked in. Part of it reflects costs you have already paid, the spread and the fees, which you would also pay on any purchase of the asset. The rest is the difference between the price you paid and the mid price used to value your holding. If you held the position and the price rose, the figure would shrink and could become a profit; it becomes a realised loss only if you sell at a lower price.
Q: How long does it take for the loss to go away?
There is no set time, because it depends entirely on the market. The loss disappears once the price, or the exchange rate for USD, moves far enough in your favour to cover the spread and the fees. For a liquid asset with a narrow spread, a small price rise may be enough; for a thinly traded asset with a wide spread, the price needs to move further. Your portfolio updates as the price changes.
Q: Why do I see a smaller loss in the portfolio than on the wallet page for USD?
Because the two pages convert your dollars at different prices. The portfolio uses the mid price between the buy and sell rate, while the wallet page uses the USD sell price, which is lower. Straight after a conversion, the wallet figure therefore looks smaller than the portfolio figure, even though both describe the same dollar balance. The wallet figure is the closer guide to what you would get by converting back to Rupiah right now.
Q: Can I avoid the loss that appears right after buying?
You can reduce it but not avoid it entirely, because every trade crosses the spread and most carry a fee. Trading liquid assets with narrow spreads, trading when the market is active rather than quiet, and splitting very large orders all help keep the gap small. Checking the buy price, sell price and fee breakdown before you confirm shows you exactly what a purchase will cost before you commit to it.