Forex trading involves the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another. Currencies are traded in pairs, and the exchange rate between two currencies reflects the relative value of each currency. Here are the key points about forex trading:
- Currency Pairs: In forex trading, currencies are quoted in pairs, such as EUR/USD or GBP/JPY. The first currency in the pair is the base currency, and the second one is the quote currency. The exchange rate tells you how much of the quote currency is needed to purchase one unit of the base currency.
- Exchange Rates: Exchange rates fluctuate based on market dynamics and the relative strength or weakness of the two currencies in the pair. Traders aim to profit from these fluctuations.
- Major Currency Pairs: Major currency pairs are the most heavily traded pairs and always include the U.S. dollar. The major pairs are EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF, USD/CAD, AUD/USD, and NZD/USD. They are considered the most liquid and provide numerous trading opportunities.
- Cross-Currency Pairs: Cross-currency pairs, or crosses, do not include the U.S. dollar. These pairs involve two major currencies, such as EUR/GBP, EUR/JPY, or GBP/JPY. Crosses are also known as minor currency pairs.
- Exotic Currency Pairs: Exotic currency pairs consist of one major currency and one currency from an emerging market. These pairs are less frequently traded and can have wider spreads and higher transaction costs. Examples of exotic pairs include USD/BRL (U.S. dollar/Brazilian real) and USD/TRY (U.S. dollar/Turkish lira).
- Currency Symbols: Each currency has a three-letter code, such as USD for the U.S. dollar, EUR for the Euro, and JPY for the Japanese Yen.
- Liquidity: Liquidity in the forex market is determined by the number of active traders and trading volume. Major currency pairs tend to be more liquid than crosses and exotics, making them easier to trade.
- G10 Currencies: G10 currencies are ten of the most heavily traded and liquid currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, NZD, CAD, CHF, NOK, and SEK.
- Scandinavian Currencies (Scandies): These currencies are the krone (crown) currencies and are used in Denmark (DKK), Sweden (SEK), and Norway (NOK).
- CEE Currencies: Central and Eastern European currencies, including the forint (HUF) in Hungary, koruna (CZK) in the Czech Republic, zloty (PLN) in Poland, and leu (RON) in Romania.
- BRIICS Currencies: Currencies from Brazil (BRL), Russia (RUB), India (INR), Indonesia (IDR), China (CNY), and South Africa (ZAR).
In summary, forex trading involves the exchange of currencies in pairs, with major, cross, and exotic pairs available for trading. Traders aim to profit from changes in exchange rates resulting from various factors, including economic data, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. The forex market is one of the largest and most liquid financial markets globally, with numerous currency pairs to choose from for trading.