Nicknames thread: what do traders call the pairs?

Cable, fiber, loonie, aussie, kiwi, swissy — traders rarely use the official pair names, and news headlines assume you know them. Beginners meet these nicknames on day one and nobody explains them.

Nicknames thread: what do traders call the pairs? — bid-ask spread diagram
The bid-ask spread on a currency pair

Post a nickname and the pair it means, one per reply, or ask about one you've seen. The community can build the most useful thread for new members this forum has.

Nicknames thread: what do traders call the pairs? — risk-reward diagram
A risk-reward ratio of 1 to 2

The currency pair nicknames guide collects the common ones with their origins.

Background: Currency pair nicknames: cable, fiber, loonie, aussie, kiwi and more

Why GBP/USD is called cable, where the loonie got its name, and the other nicknames traders use for currencies, pairs and gold, plus how ISO currency codes work.

Why is GBP/USD called cable?

In the 19th century, sterling–dollar exchange rates were transmitted between London and New York by telegraph cable under the Atlantic, and the name stuck.

What is the loonie in forex?

The Canadian dollar, named after the loon on Canada's one-dollar coin. Traders often call USD/CAD the loonie.

Read the full guide

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