What Is Traded in Forex?

In forex you're always trading money itself. You buy one currency while simultaneously selling another, hoping the one you bought gains value against the one you sold.

Major currencies

A handful of currencies dominate trading:

• USD — US Dollar
• EUR — Euro
• JPY — Japanese Yen
• GBP — British Pound
• AUD, CAD, CHF, NZD — and other majors

The US Dollar is on one side of most trades, which is why news from the United States moves the whole market.