Lesson 11: Types of Currency Pairs. Why Do People Trade Cross Currency Pairs?


Types of currency pairs

There are many different currency pairs that you can trade in the Forex market. But what is the difference between a major, a minor, and a cross currency? What makes it different from other sorts of money? In this lesson, we'll address these questions and show you some examples of cross currencies in action in this lecture. Keep an eye out!

What is a Major Currency Pair? 

A major currency pair is a combination of two of the world's most widely traded currencies. EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and GBP/USD are the most popular pairs. These pairs make up the bulk of global currency trade and are therefore highly liquid. Liquidity refers to how easily a currency can be bought or sold without affecting the overall market price.

A currency pair is considered major if it's traded frequently and has high liquidity. The major pairs are also the most liquid and have the tightest spreads, which is the difference between the bid and ask prices. This tight spread results in low transaction costs for traders.

The USD/JPY pair is one of the most popular major currency pairs. It's often nicknamed the "Gopher" because of its ticker symbol, USD/JPY. The pair is highly liquid and has a tight spread, making it attractive to traders.

The EUR/USD pair is another popular major currency pair. It's nicknamed the "Eurodollar" and is the most traded currency pair in the world. The pair has a high liquidity and tight spread, making it a good choice for traders.

The GBP/USD pair is the third most popular major currency pair. It's nicknamed the "Cable" and is one of the oldest currency pairs in existence. The pair has high liquidity and a tight spread, making it a popular choice for traders.

These are the three most popular major currency pairs. Each pair has high liquidity and tight spreads, making them attractive to traders. When choosing a currency pair to trade, be sure to consider the liquidity and spreads before making your decision.

Major currency pairs are important because they are the most liquid and have the tightest spreads. When choosing a currency pair to trade, be sure to consider the liquidity and spreads before making your decision.

What is a Minor Currency Pair?

A minor currency pair is a pairing of two currencies, where one is the major currency, and the other is not as frequently traded. These pairs are not as liquid as the major pairs and often have wider spreads.

The USD/CHF pair is an example of a minor currency pair. The "Swissie" is the nickname for the Swiss franc, and the pair is not as liquid as the major pairs. The spread is also typically wider on this pair.

The USD/CAD pair is another example of a minor currency pair. The "Loonie" is the nickname for the Canadian dollar, and like the USD/CHF pair, it is not as liquid as the major pairs. The spread is also typically wider on this pair.

These are two examples of minor currency pairs. These pairs are not as liquid as the major pairs and often have wider spreads. When choosing a currency pair to trade, be sure to consider the liquidity and spreads before making your decision.

What is a Cross Currency? 

In simple terms, it is a currency pair that does not include the US dollar. For example, some common cross currency pairs are EUR/GBP, AUD/JPY, and GBP/CHF. These pairs are all traded against the US dollar on Forex markets.

Why Do People Trade Cross Pair?

There are a number of reasons why traders might choose to trade cross currencies. One of the most common is that they can be used to hedge against currency risk. For example, if you are holding a US dollar-denominated asset, you may want to consider hedging with a cross currency pair if you believe that the dollar will weaken in the future.

Another reason to trade cross currencies is for diversification purposes. By including a mix of different currency pairs in your portfolio, you can reduce your overall risk.

Finally, Currency crosses are more than just the seven major dollar-based pairs. They offer many currency pairs that can be used to make money!

Trading currency crosses gives you more trading options because they are not tied to the U.S. Dollar and can have different price movements.

While most markets trade only on anti- or pro-U.S. dollar sentiments, there are new opportunities for currency crosses.

So, for example, some of the dollar-based pairs may be trading in a sideways or worse way than others. It would be smarter to SIT and WAIT so you can trade better.

Trading opportunities might be available if you know how to change your charts to view currency crosses.

So you can be the different! Most traders only trade the majors.

These are only a few instances of what a cross currency is in the Forex market. They can be used for a variety of applications, as you can see.

Cross currencies may be a smart alternative for you if you want to diversify your portfolio or hedge against currency risk.

Keep an eye out for more Forex lessons & advice! Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Do you have any concerns about currency pairs? Please let us know in the comments section below!

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