What are Major Currencies and Currency Pairs in Forex Trading Market|
Major Currencies
Symbol | Country | Currency | Nickname |
USD | | Dollar | Buck |
EUR | Euro zone members | Euro | Fiber |
JPY | | Yen | Yen |
GBP | | Pound | Cable |
CHF | | Franc | Swiss |
CAD | | Dollar | Lonnie |
AUD | | Dollar | Aussie |
NZD | | Dollar | Kiwi |
Currency symbols always have three letters, where the first two letters identify the name of the country and the third letter identifies the name of that country's currency.
Take NZD for instance. NZ stands for
The currencies included in the chart above are called the "majors" because they are the most widely traded ones.
We'd also like to let you know that "buck" isn't the only nickname for USD.
There's also: greenbacks, bones, benjis, Benjamin’s, cheddar, paper, loot, scrilla, cheese, bread, moolah, dead presidents, and cash money.
Did you also know that in
Currencies Are Traded in Pairs
Forex trading is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling another. Currencies are traded through a broker or dealer, and are traded in pairs; for example the euro and the U.S. dollar (EUR/USD) or the British pound and the Japanese yen (GBP/JPY).
When you trade in the Forex market, you buy or sell in currency pairs.
Imagine each pair constantly in a "tug of war" with each currency on its own side of the rope. Exchange rates fluctuate based on which currency is stronger at the moment.
Major Currency Pairs
The currency pairs listed below are considered the "majors". These pairs all contain the U.S. dollar (USD) on one side and are the most frequently traded. The majors are the most liquid and widely traded currency pairs in the world.
Pair | Countries | FX Geek Speak |
EUR/USD | Euro zone / | "euro dollar" |
USD/JPY | | "dollar yen" |
GBP/USD | | "pound dollar" |
USD/CHF | | "dollar swissy" |
USD/CAD | | "dollar loonie" |
AUD/USD | | "aussie dollar" |
NZD/USD | | "kiwi dollar" |
Major Cross-Currency Pairs or Minor Currency Pairs
Currency pairs that don't contain the U.S. dollar (USD) are known as cross-currency pairs or simply as the "crosses." Major crosses are also known as "minors." The most actively traded crosses are derived from the three major non-USD currencies: EUR, JPY, and GBP.
Euro Crosses
Pair | Countries | FX Geek Speak |
EUR/CHF | Euro zone / | "euro swissy" |
EUR/GBP | Euro zone / | "euro pound" |
EUR/CAD | Euro zone / | "euro loonie" |
EUR/AUD | Euro zone / | "euro aussie" |
EUR/NZD | Euro zone / | "euro kiwi" |
Yen Crosses
Pair | Countries | FX Geek Speak |
EUR/JPY | Euro zone / | "euro yen" or "yuppy" |
GBP/JPY | | "pound yen" or "guppy" |
CHF/JPY | | "swissy yen" |
CAD/JPY | | "loonie yen" |
AUD/JPY | | "aussie yen" |
NZD/JPY | | "kiwi yen" |
Pound Crosses
Pair | Countries | FX Geek Speak |
GBP/CHF | | "pound swissy" |
GBP/AUD | | "pound aussie" |
GBP/CAD | | "pound loonie" |
GBP/NZD | | "pound kiwi" |
Other Crosses
Pair | Countries | FX Geek Speak |
AUD/CHF | | "aussie swissy" |
AUD/CAD | | "aussie loonie" |
AUD/NZD | | "aussie kiwi" |
CAD/CHF | | "loonie swissy" |
NZD/CHF | | "kiwi swissy" |
NZD/CAD | | "kiwi loonie" |
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