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What is a Currency Pair?

A currency pair reflects the comparative value of one currency against another in the foreign exchange (forex) market. It indicates how much of the second currency, known as the quote currency, is required to buy one unit of the first currency, called the base currency. For example, in the EUR/USD pair, EUR is the base currency, and USD is the quote currency. If the pair is quoted at 1.2000, it means one euro is equivalent to 1.20 US dollars.

Currency pairs are used in forex trading to measure the price movements between two currencies. Each currency pair has its own market dynamics, influenced by economic indicators, geopolitical factors, and market sentiment. Traders often observe currency pairs to monitor fluctuations in exchange rates, which can offer insight into broader economic trends. This mechanism forms the basis for evaluating the performance of one currency against another in a standardised manner.

Components of a Currency Pair: Base and quote currency

Every currency pair consists of two parts — the base currency and the quote currency. The base currency appears first and represents one unit of that currency. The quote currency follows and shows how much of it is needed to buy one unit of the base currency. In the USD/JPY pair, for instance, USD is the base, and JPY is the quote. If the exchange rate is 110.00, it means one US dollar is worth 110 Japanese yen.

The value of a currency pair changes based on several factors, including interest rates, inflation levels, and macroeconomic conditions. When a currency pair increases in value, it signifies the base currency has gained strength against the quote currency. When it decreases, the base currency has weakened. Understanding these components helps traders interpret how exchange rate fluctuations impact conversions between different currencies in international transactions.

Types of Currency Pairs: Major, minor, and exotic

Currency pairs in the forex market are categorised into three primary types — major, minor, and exotic. These classifications are based on the currencies involved, their global usage, and the overall trading activity they attract. Each type reflects distinct characteristics in terms of market liquidity, volatility, and economic representation.

1. Major currency pairs
Major currency pairs involve the US dollar paired with other globally recognised and actively traded currencies. These include the euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Swiss franc, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, and New Zealand dollar. Common examples are:

  • EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar)

  • USD/JPY (US Dollar/Japanese Yen)

  • GBP/USD (British Pound/US Dollar)

  • USD/CHF (US Dollar/Swiss Franc)

  • AUD/USD (Australian Dollar/US Dollar)

  • USD/CAD (US Dollar/Canadian Dollar)

  • NZD/USD (New Zealand Dollar/US Dollar)

These pairs generally exhibit high liquidity and are influenced by economic data, interest rate decisions, and geopolitical events related to the countries involved.

2. Minor currency pairs
Minor currency pairs do not include the US dollar but feature other prominent global currencies. They may involve the euro, British pound, Swiss franc, or Australian dollar, among others. Examples of minor pairs include:

  • EUR/GBP (Euro/British Pound)

  • EUR/CHF (Euro/Swiss Franc)

  • GBP/JPY (British Pound/Japanese Yen)

  • AUD/NZD (Australian Dollar/New Zealand Dollar)

These pairs tend to have lower trading volumes than majors, which can result in wider bid-ask spreads. Market movements in minor pairs are often influenced by regional economic indicators and political developments.

3. Exotic currency pairs
Exotic pairs combine one major currency with a currency from an emerging or smaller economy. These currencies may represent nations with developing financial markets or lower overall trading activity. Some examples are:

  • USD/TRY (US Dollar/Turkish Lira)

  • EUR/SEK (Euro/Swedish Krona)

  • GBP/ZAR (British Pound/South African Rand)

  • USD/THB (US Dollar/Thai Baht)

Exotic pairs are less liquid, more volatile, and more sensitive to regional economic or political events. It is usually more costly to trade these pairs with wider spreads.

Each form of currency pair has its own characteristic, and information about these types can help understand trading trends as well as evaluate market behavior.

Most Traded Currency Pairs

Some currency pairs consistently register high trading volumes due to the size and global relevance of the economies they represent. The most actively traded pairs include:

  • EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar) – Commonly observed due to the economic size of the Eurozone and the US.

  • USD/JPY (US Dollar/Japanese Yen) – Frequently traded owing to Japan’s strong export economy and US influence.

  • GBP/USD (British Pound/US Dollar) – Reflects the relationship between two long-established financial centres.

  • USD/CHF (US Dollar/Swiss Franc) – Often noted for its stability in certain market conditions.

These pairings are frequently cited in financial assessments and are frequently used as benchmarks in the FX market.

Conclusion

A currency pair refers to the relative strength of two currencies and is the focus of forex trading. A currency pair is made up of a base currency and a quote currency, with the former being the unit of measurement and the latter its value. Pairs are referred to as major, minor, and exotic based on frequency of trading, liquidity, and economies involved. Major pairs are high-volume, frequently traded currencies, while minor and exotic pairs are combinations involving less traded or emerging market currencies. Each term represents varying market conditions, for instance, volatility and pricing conditions. Understanding these terms, as well as the function of base and quote currencies, can assist in providing insight into the effect of economic indicators and geopolitics on exchange rates. Information assists in analyzing currency movement and provides a formalized way to analyze trends in the global forex market.

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