Cross currency forex trading has emerged as an intriguing segment that presents unique opportunities and challenges. In this article, we discuss commonly traded pairs, liquidity challenges, and the factors influencing cross exchange rates. Additionally, we present three trading strategies to help traders navigate the dynamic scene of forex cross currency pairs.

Understanding Cross Currency Trading

Knowing the basic concept of cross currency trading and considering the most frequently traded pairs can open a new realm of opportunities for traders.

Excluding the US Dollar Offers Opportunities

Cross currency pairs, also known as "crosses," involve currencies that are not paired with the US dollar (USD). For instance, if the euro (EUR) is traded against the Japanese yen (JPY), it forms a cross currency pair. Cross currency pairs introduce diversification opportunities and allow traders to gain exposure to specific economies and their interconnections.

Cross Currency Examples

Traditionally, the best forex cross pairs to trade are those that involve currencies from major global economies other than the USA. Here are a few popular and widely traded forex cross pairs:

• EUR/JPY (Euro/Japanese Yen): Known for its liquidity and considerable volatility, this pair attracts traders looking for opportunities in the Eurozone and Japan.
• GBP/AUD (British Pound/Australian Dollar): This cross offers a mix of major currencies, providing exposure to two economically significant regions.
• EUR/AUD (Euro/Australian Dollar): Combining the euro and Australian dollar, this pair is favoured for its liquidity and potential trend movements.
• GBP/JPY (British Pound/Japanese Yen): Renowned for its volatility, this pair is favoured by traders seeking the potential for substantial price movements.

Cross Currency Pairs May Have Liquidity Issues

While cross currency pairs provide diversification benefits, traders need to navigate potential liquidity challenges. Less popular crosses often exhibit wider spreads, diminishing their attractiveness due to the increased transaction costs. The lower liquidity in these pairs can result in slippage, where the execution price deviates from the expected price at the time of order placement. To mitigate these challenges, traders implement advanced order types, like limit orders, which can further enhance precision in trade execution, and stop-loss orders, which can help limit potential losses.

Key Factors Affecting Cross Currency Rates

When considering major cross currency pairs, traders focus on the specific conditions of the countries involved in the pair.

• Interest Rates: Variances in interest rates between the two countries can significantly impact cross currency rates. Traders often monitor central bank decisions to anticipate interest rate changes.
• Economic Indicators: Economic data, such as GDP growth, employment figures, and inflation rates, play a crucial role in influencing cross currency exchange rates.
• Political Stability: Political events and stability in each country can impact investor confidence, leading to fluctuations in cross currency rates.

Trading Strategies for Forex Cross Currency Pairs

Effective forex strategies that exploit cross rate exchange discrepancies involve some of the most popular technical indicators.

Price Divergence Strategy: EUR/AUD

In this example for the EUR/AUD cross currency pair, traders use the divergence between the price and the On-Balance Volume (OBV) indicator to decide on taking long or short positions. Additionally, the MACD indicator is used to identify precise entry and exit points.

Entry

Traders look for a bearish/bullish divergence between the price and the OBV: the price is moving up/down, while the OBV is moving lower/higher, signalling a potential reversal of price momentum. The MACD line crossing below/above the signal line confirms a potential short or a long entry.

Stop Loss

Stop loss may be placed above/below the recent swing high or low for short and long positions, respectively.

Take Profit

Traders may set a take-profit target at a predefined support/resistance level or when the MACD line shows signs of a potential reversal.

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Bollinger Bands, Stochastic, and ADX Strategy: GBP/JPY

This strategy is effective in ranging markets. Bollinger Bands help identify price volatility, and the Stochastic Oscillator assists in pinpointing potential reversal points within the range. Traders often include the Average Directional Index (ADX) to assess the strength of the range-bound market.

Entry

Traders may consider a long/short position when the price touches the lower/upper Bollinger Band and then reverses. The signal should be confirmed by the Stochastic Oscillator moving above/below the oversold/overbought level, while the ADX should have low values, which confirms the weakness of the current trend.

Stop Loss

Traders may consider placing a stop loss just outside the Bollinger Bands for both long and short positions, taking into account their risk preference.

Take Profit

For long/short positions, traders might take profit when the price touches the opposite Bollinger Band and the Stochastic Oscillator makes a bearish/bullish reversal.

Price Reversal Strategy: EUR/JPY

This strategy aims to identify potential trend reversals based on overbought or oversold conditions as indicated by the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Money Flow Index (MFI).

Entry

Traders may consider entering a long/short position when both RSI and MFI indicate oversold/overbought conditions, typically below 30 and above 70 for RSI and below 20 and above 80 for MFI.

Stop Loss

The theory states that a stop loss may be placed just below/above the recent swing low/high or a significant support/resistance level, depending on the trader’s risk management goals.

Take Profit

Take-profit targets might be based on potential reversals in the opposite direction of the trade, signalled by both RSI and MFI being in the overbought/oversold area.

Final Thoughts

Cross currency trading provides a unique avenue for diversification and strategic opportunities. Understanding the challenges and employing effective strategies involving multiple indicators can empower traders to deal with this complex but rewarding segment of the forex market. You can open an FXOpen account and try your advanced cross currency pairs trading strategies.

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