Currency Volatility: What is it & How to Trade It?

The most volatile currency pairs are also affected by some market indicators that can be used to predict economic performance. They may include inflation, availability of commodities, outputs and unemployment rates. Forex trading requires consistency, patience and you must also have the best strategies to win in the market. But above all, you need to make a good decision on which currency pairs you will trade. This is because forex pairs usually affect the trading strategy and risk management.

In the context of volatility, positive correlation between two currencies can lead to less volatile currency pairs. When two currencies are positively correlated, their movements tend to cancel each other out, resulting in smoother price fluctuations. This is because when one currency strengthens, the other currency in the pair also tends to appreciate, leading to relatively stable price movements.

In the Asian continent, the Japanese yen, on the one hand, is often used. Based on all three diagrams, we can conclude that volatility tends to change during any period. All you need to do before you start using the tool is to enter the period in weeks over which you want to measure the volatility. We should note that, by definition, volatility tends to change over time and is not a constant. The volatility of two currencies may be affected by their correlation.

  • Some traders prefer trading exotic pairs because they have high volatility rates, which means that they can return higher gains.
  • Volatility is the frequency at which your currency pair fluctuates and is usually calculated by determining the variance or the standard deviation of forex price movement.
  • To prepare for such events, traders should regularly refer to economic calendars, which provide schedules of upcoming news releases and events.
  • As a result, the NZD/JPY market is experiencing large price fluctuations, which makes it one of the most volatile pairs in forex.
  • Given the enormous levels of liquidity that EUR/USD, USD/CHF, and EUR/GBP trade with, it’s no wonder that they’re among the most volatile currency pairings.

In 2023, Mexico remains the second-largest trading partner of the US. Traders should keep in mind that the peso’s attractive yields diminish with each rate hike by the Federal Reserve. In 2019, the election of Jair Bolsonaro, an extreme right-wing populist, as president further exacerbated this fxprimus review situation. Shortly after his inauguration, the Brazilian real experienced a sharp fall against the US dollar. With the current president Lula da Silva, previously convicted of money laundering, Brazil also faces economic challenges, so volatility in the USD/BRL pair is likely to continue.

This is good for South African exporters because it means that they will get more US dollars for their gold on the world markets. Lastly, traders should remain adaptable and open to adjusting their strategies in response to changing market dynamics. Market conditions can shift rapidly, and successful traders are those who can quickly recognize new trends and adapt their positions accordingly.

Except for the black swan event in 2015 and a few occasional “incidents”, the CHF does not move much, especially against other major currencies such as the Euro and the US Dollar. TRY has been highly volatile since 2016 following a failed coup d’état and the subsequent ‘purges’ that have been taking place in Turkish society. On the other hand, pairs with very low volatilities aren’t ideal either. Generally, the value of every currency in the world fluctuates, though by a minute, Forex traders take advantage of these small changes, you could say, daily.

Factors That Affect The Volatility of Currency Pairs

Trade balance influences the USD/KRW exchange rate, and if Korea has a trade surplus with the US, the KRW experiences greater demand. Since Korea exports automobiles, electronics, steel, and petroleum, and the demand for these products is unstable, the pair’s rate often fluctuates. This is especially true when we see any key policy statements made in Britain.

  • There are several other examples of emerging market currency pairs swinging drastically like this throughout history.
  • Also, the most volatile currency pairs are highlighted in the list below.
  • When the price of an asset increases, the trader’s market position grows in value, and vice versa.

USD/ZAR (US Dollar/South Africa Rand) bulges nearly 25 percent over a month. In addition, there are several other examples of emerging market currency pairs bulging or deflating this much over a short period throughout history. Trading cross-rates is more difficult compared to major currency pairs. Traders must track not only news on cross-currencies but also on USD, which sets the price movement for other currencies. For example, negative statistics on inflation came out in the USA – investors switched from the dollar to the British pound. As a result, the pound rose in price against other currencies, although there were no reasons for this in the UK itself.

FX Currency Protection Against Volatile Currencies

Historical volatility has already happened, and implied volatility is a measure of traders’ expectations for the future (based on the price of futures options). The popularity of a currency pair provides the best trading conditions. Since more people are interested in an asset, the easier it is to buy and sell. GBP/USD is the third what it’s really like to work remotely most liquid currency pair with the British Pound one of the most popular currencies globally. EUR/USD is the most liquid forex pair and represents 20-30% of the forex market by trading volume. According to the Bank for International Settlements Triennial Bank Survey, EUR/USD accounted for 24% of all trading volume in April 2019.

AUDJPY

While trading in volatile currency pairs, technical aspects like resistance levels, support, and price patterns should be considered. Traders should remain updated with the latest Forex prices, supply, demand, political events, analysis, and news. Usually, technical analysis will be used by traders to measure volatility. Volatile currency pairs will show more price movement, and the price movement will be more frequent.

What Does Volatility Depend On In Trading?

Oil prices have a big impact on the Canadian dollar and the Japanese yen as safe-haven currency. The NZDJPY is regarded as a volatile currency because JPY is stable while NZD is not a stable currency. New Zealand is a commodity currency because it is rich in natural resources and a major exporter of agricultural products, including xm group whole milk powder, fruit, and meat. New Zealand’s tourism industry is a major economic driver, therefore when the industry is doing well, the currency tends to strengthen. But say, in this instance, you don’t execute your order for two days. At a new exchange rate of 0.9250, you would be paying £46.25 for the shares, for £4625.

What is the difference between trading currency pairs with high volatility versus low volatility?

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are among the leading trading platforms globally, but they do not natively provide 30-second chart timeframes. Correlation between two currencies can also have an impact on their volatility. The more positively two currencies are correlated to one another might lead to less volatility. Continuing with our USD/CHF example, we note that the US Dollar and Swiss Franc are both viewed as safe-haven currencies.

We recommend that you seek independent financial advice and ensure you fully understand the risks involved before trading. CAD/CHF, EUR/CHF, AUD/CHF, and CHF/JPY are the less volatile Forex pairs among the cross rates. The hourly volatility diagram for NZD/USD, which peaks at 12 and 21 o’clock (GMT), is of particular interest. It entirely coincides with the time of economic data releases for the USA and New Zealand. It also confirms the thesis on volatility increase upon major financial data releases mentioned at the beginning. On the other hand, when key economic data are published, or officials make a speech, the market price makes sharp and strong movements.

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These outlines show the normal day by day unpredictability of the NZD/USD pair since July 1. They likewise show a normal week by week, every day and hourly instability of the pair. Then again, when key financial information are distributed or authorities give a discourse, the market value makes sharp and solid developments. Along these lines, here we can see an expansion or even a spike of unpredictability. Finding the right forex broker before starting your trading journey is the first crucial decision you will have to make.