GBP/USD isn’t just another currency pair—it’s one of the most closely followed in the forex market.
GBP/USD attracts a huge amount of trading because the Great British Pound and the United States Dollar are two of the most influential currencies out there. This pair doesn’t sit still for long—there’s always movement, making it a favourite for traders hunting for opportunities. It accounts for around 11% of all forex trades, so when something shakes up the market, you can bet GBP/USD is right in the middle of the action.
The “GBP” symbol refers to the Great British Pound, the currency of the United Kingdom, while “USD” is the United States Dollar. The exchange rate of GBP/USD tells you how much one British pound is worth in US dollars, or vice versa. For example, if the exchange rate is 1.2550, that means it costs $1.2550 to buy one British pound.
Other GBP Pairs
But the Great British Pound doesn’t only trade with the dollar. There are several other pairs where the pound makes an appearance. For instance, GBP/JPY, the British Pound against the Japanese Yen. This pair has a reputation for volatility, regularly covering 100 to 150 pips in a session. It’s not the kind of pair that drifts aimlessly—it either moves, or it moves.
Another common pairing is EUR/GBP, where the British pound is traded against the Euro. Traders often keep an eye on this one, especially if they’re interested in both the UK and the Eurozone. This pair is often muted due to GBP/USD and EUR/USD typically moving in the same direction.
There are also GBP/AUD (British Pound vs. Australian Dollar), GBP/NZD (British Pound vs. New Zealand Dollar), and GBP/CHF (British Pound vs. Swiss Franc). Each of these pairs offers distinct trading opportunities. GBP/AUD and GBP/NZD can be slow-moving at times, but when they do break out, they can make significant moves. Meanwhile, GBP/CHF often trades within a range, making it ideal for range traders looking for consistent, predictable movements.
Cable
You may also hear the GBP/USD pair referred to as “Cable.” This nickname harks back to the 1800s when the exchange rate between the UK and the US was transmitted via an underwater cable across the Atlantic. The term stuck, and it’s still used today among forex traders.
List of GBP Pairs
GBP/USD – British Pound / United States Dollar
GBP/EUR – British Pound / Euro
GBP/JPY – British Pound / Japanese Yen
GBP/AUD – British Pound / Australian Dollar
GBP/NZD – British Pound / New Zealand Dollar
GBP/CHF – British Pound / Swiss Franc
GBP/CAD – British Pound / Canadian Dollar
GBP/SGD – British Pound / Singapore Dollar
GBP/HKD – British Pound / Hong Kong Dollar
GBP/NOK – British Pound / Norwegian Krone
GBP/SEK – British Pound / Swedish Krona
GBP/DKK – British Pound / Danish Krone
GBP/ZAR – British Pound / South African Rand
GBP/TRY – British Pound / Turkish Lira
GBP/MXN – British Pound / Mexican Peso
GBP/PLN – British Pound / Polish Zloty
GBP/ILS – British Pound / Israeli Shekel
GBP/CZK – British Pound / Czech Koruna
GBP/HUF – British Pound / Hungarian Forint
GBP/THB – British Pound / Thai Baht
GBP/INR – British Pound / Indian Rupee
GBP/KRW – British Pound / South Korean Won
GBP/MYR – British Pound / Malaysian Ringgit
GBP/PHP – British Pound / Philippine Peso
GBP/TWD – British Pound / New Taiwan Dollar
GBP/CNY – British Pound / Chinese Yuan
GBP/RUB – British Pound / Russian Ruble
The availability of these currency pairs can vary depending on the forex broker.
