Cross Rate
An exchange rate between two currencies where neither is the domestic base currency.
A cross rate is an exchange rate between two currencies, neither of which is the local base currency.
A cross rate is an exchange rate between two currencies when neither is the domestic currency of the trader or the pricing centre. Common crosses like EUR/JPY and GBP/CHF are quoted directly rather than derived through the US dollar. Crosses often carry wider spreads and different volatility than major pairs.
How It Works
- It is quoted directly, not through the dollar
- Crosses can have wider spreads than majors
- Volatility profiles differ across crosses
Trading Tips
Size crosses with their wider spread in mind
Read the pair in the context of both base economies
Watch them closely around central bank events
Cross Rate Example
Say you want to short sterling against yen but USD/JPY is mid-intervention chaos. GBP/JPY as a cross still quotes cleanly from euro-dollar legs underneath. The cross lets you express the view while dodging the dollar noise.
How Traders Use Cross Rate
Use crosses to isolate regional views from dollar swings. Check both dollar legs first: a cross moving on USD news alone will snap back. Crosses trend cleaner but spread wider, so size down.
Related Terms
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