Major Forex Pairs Explained: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY and More

New to forex? Understanding the "major" currency pairs is your first essential step. **EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar)** — Most traded pair globally (~28% of daily volume). Driven by ECB vs Fed policy divergence. Tight spreads, highly liquid, best for beginners. **GBP/USD (British Pound/Dollar)** — More volatile than EUR/USD. Driven by BoE policy and UK economic data. Higher spreads but bigger moves. **USD/JPY (Dollar/Japanese Yen)** — Driven by interest rate differentials. When US rates are high and Japan's are low, USD/JPY tends higher (carry trade). **USD/CHF (Dollar/Swiss Franc)** — CHF is a classic safe haven. Often inversely correlated to gold. **AUD/USD and NZD/USD** — Commodity-linked "risk currencies" — they rally when global growth expectations improve. **USD/CAD** — Strongly linked to oil prices since Canada is a major exporter. Start with EUR/USD or AUD/USD — both have the cleanest technical patterns and most educational resources available. Which major pair are you currently focused on, and what drew you to it?