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The forex pairs, one by one
What each pair is, what moves it, and when it actually comes alive (in UTC, so it works wherever you are). The majors first, then the most-traded crosses.
Major pairs
AUD/USD, nicknamed the "Aussie," tells you how many US dollars it takes to buy one Australian dollar. It is a major pair and a classic commodity currency, meaning its moves are closely tied to global growth and raw materials. Expect it to be sensitive to risk sentiment: it tends to rise when markets feel confident and fall when they get nervous.
EUR/USD is the price of the Euro measured in US Dollars, and it is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world. The Euro is the "base" currency and the US Dollar is the "quote" currency, so the price tells you how many dollars one euro is worth. Because it links two of the largest economies on the planet, it tends to be steady and deeply liquid, which is why many beginners start here.
GBP/USD shows you how many US Dollars it takes to buy one British Pound. It is one of the most traded currency pairs in the world, nicknamed "Cable" after the old transatlantic telegraph line that once carried its price. It is known for moving quickly, so the price can swing more than calmer pairs.
USD/JPY is the price of one US Dollar measured in Japanese Yen. It pairs the world's largest reserve currency against the currency most associated with safety, which gives it a clear, reactive character. It is one of the most heavily traded pairs in the world, and it tends to move sharply when global risk sentiment shifts.
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The first five modules turn all of this into something you can do on a real chart, not just nod along to. No card required.
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