The Ultimate Guide to
Forex Trading: The GBP/CHF Currency Pair
The GBP/CHF is a minor currency cross which essentially means that it does not contain the US dollar. Since this is a minor cross, it means that trading and liquidity are likely to be much lower than the major currency pairs.
The over-the-counter (OTC) daily turnovers released by BIS of these two currencies suggest that trading of the pairs is well below the major currency pairs like the Euro Dollar. For 2016, the average daily OTC turnovers of the GBP (British pound) and the CHF (Swiss Franc) was US$649 billion and US$243 billion respectively. These represent volumes of 13% for the GBP and 5% for the CHF.
Nevertheless, because both the GBP and the CHF are both considered major currencies, trading of the GBP/CHF currency pair is attractive to many traders and investors. The British Pound originates from the world’s largest financial centre while the Swiss franc is considered a safe haven currency.
During the course of the last 10 weeks, the GBP/CHF experienced a volatility of 0.99%, moving by approximately 125.02 pips. Over the last 52 weeks, the price has moved between 1.1446 and 1.4613. The GBP/CHF opened trading on Monday, March 6, 2016, at a price of 1.2378, down from the previous close of 1.2391 (Bloomberg).
How To Trade The GBP/CHF
One of the popular methods to trade the GBP/CHF pair is through a Forex broker like AvaTrade. Forex brokers like AvaTrade offer their clients access thousands of different markets including currency pairs, indices, commodities like gold and oil via CFDs.
An advantage of going through a regulated forex broker is the added protection and security offered by a regulator like the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. You can compare a full list of broker that are regulated by the FCA here: Comparison of FCA regulated Brokers.
Fundamental Factors Affecting the GBP/CHF Currency Pair
Apart from the economies of Great Britain and Switzerland, the GBP/CHF currency pair is also affected by the economies of countries in their geographic proximity. Employment rates, interest rates, trade policies and political factors all play a role in determining the rate of exchange between the Pound and the Franc.
Uncertainty regarding the UK-EU relationship going into 2017, resulted in sharp falls in investment in the UK during the last quarter of 2016. With increased speculation about possible interest rates hikes in the United States during 2017, investors have been resorting to safer haven currencies like the Swiss Franc in order to temper volatility. This increase in demand for the Franc is likely to push up the price of the currency.
On the British side, Brexit has resulted in a weakening pound which means increasing production costs for manufacturers. This means that imports are likely to become more expensive as 2017 progresses. UK exports will consequently become more attractive as the demand for UK goods increases.
As the year 2017 progresses, the US interest rates are expected to have a significant impact on the movement of the GBP/CHF currency pair.
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