Currency-market specifics: pairs, pips, lots, leverage, costs, and sessions
Learning mode: use this track to build a working mental model. For deeper claims, caveats, evidence status, source provenance, and TradingOS implementation links, open the Knowledge Base / Concept Wiki. A concept being catalogued does not by itself make it a validated trading edge.
Start here: New to trading? Do the Trading Core track first — order types, risk management and sizing live there.
A forex pair consists of a BASE currency (left) and a QUOTE currency (right). Example: EUR/USD = 1.0850 → 1 EUR = 1.0850 USD.
No USD: EUR/GBP, EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY, AUD/JPY, NZD/JPY. Wider spreads than majors, and price action can be more volatile.
Exotic Pairs
A major paired with an emerging-market currency: USD/TRY, USD/ZAR, USD/MXN, USD/SGD. WIDE spreads, low liquidity, high swap costs. AVOID unless you understand the risks.
Safe Haven
USD, JPY, CHF — strengthen during crises and market downturns. XAU/USD (gold) is also a safe haven. AUD, NZD = risk-on (strengthen when the market is bullish).
How to read this: Focus on MAJOR pairs first (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY). Lower spreads mean lower trading costs. Avoid exotic pairs until you have been consistently profitable on majors for at least 3 months.