Base Currency Definition – The “Base” currency is the first currency presented in a quote involving a pair of currencies. Dealing in currencies can be confusing at the start because you must always deal with a currency pair. The first currency in the pair is the “Base” currency. The second currency in the pair is labeled the “Quote” currency or “Counter” currency. A quotation then defines how many units of the counter currency are needed to buy one unit of the base currency. The quotation of a currency pair usually consists of two prices, much as with stocks traded on an exchange. The “Bid”, usually lower than the “Ask”, is the price at which a market maker or a broker is willing to buy the base currency in exchange for the quote currency. Ask or Offer, usually higher than Bid, is the price at which a broker is willing to sell the base currency in exchange for the quote currency. If the Bid price for a EUR/USD pair is 1.2750 and the Offer price is 1.2752, the difference, 2 “pips” in forex trader slang, is referred to as the “spread”. Most forex brokers derive their trading profits from the spread, so it is beneficial to review broker spreads before transacting trades. In this example you would pay $1.2752 to acquire one Euro.
Forextraders' Broker of the Month
BlackBull Markets is a reliable and well-respected trading platform that provides its customers with high-quality access to a wide range of asset groups. The broker is headquartered in New Zealand which explains why it has flown under the radar for a few years but it is a great broker that is now building a global following. The BlackBull Markets site is intuitive and easy to use, making it an ideal choice for beginners.