Trading EUR/USD
The EUR/USD is the most traded currency pair by volume. For UK investors, the major forex pairing offers significant profit potential. Here we discuss how to start trading the EUR/USD, taking into account historical rates, long-term forecasts and market news. We also explain how to read FX live charts for technical analysis so you can implement an effective trading strategy.
EUR/USD Trading Brokers
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Pepperstone provides forex spreads on the EUR/USD averaging just 0.12 pips with their Razor account. This is highly competitive. Their extensive portfolio includes over 100 currency pairs, which exceeds what most rivals offer. Furthermore, Pepperstone stands out by offering three unique currency indices: USDX, EURX, and JPYX, which are rare on other platforms. They have been recognised with our 'Best Forex Broker' award twice.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 0.4 0.1 0.4 Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 100+ Yes MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower -
XTB offers over 60 currency pairs with competitive spreads, averaging 1 pip on major pairs. The xStation platform is user-friendly, featuring over 30 indicators in its charting package and a variety of order types, supporting diverse trading strategies and risk management.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 1.4 1.0 1.4 Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 70+ Yes xStation -
IBKR offers a vast range of over 100 forex pairs, including major, minor, and exotic currencies, outstripping most competitors except CMC Markets. Trading is available across multiple platforms with institutional-grade spreads beginning at 0.1 pips. There are also 20 sophisticated order types, such as brackets, scale, and one-cancels-all (OCA) orders, enhancing trading strategies.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 100+ Yes Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower -
Vantage provides over 55 currency pairs, exceeding the industry norm, giving traders ample opportunities. With a robust liquidity pool, forex spreads start at 0.0 pips on the ECN account, often beating other options. Additionally, there are no commissions, deposit fees, or hidden charges.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 0.5 0.0 0.5 Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 55+ Yes ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade -
FOREX.com remains a leading FX broker, providing 80 currency pairs with highly competitive fees. EUR/USD spreads can reach as low as 0.0, with a $7 commission per $100k, making it a standout choice.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 1.3 1.2 1.4 Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 84 Yes WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView -
Eightcap provides over 50 currency pairs, matching the industry norm but falling short of leaders like CMC Markets, which offers more than 300. Nonetheless, Eightcap distinguishes itself with institutional-quality spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major pairs such as EUR/USD. The broker's competitively low commissions at $3.50 per side further enhance its appeal. Eightcap also equips traders with comprehensive forex data, including essential fundamentals, bullish and bearish signals, and a calendar monitoring significant foreign exchange market events.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 0.1 0.0 0.1 Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 50+ Yes MT4, MT5, TradingView -
IG provides an extensive selection of over 80 currency pairs through its own web platform, mobile app, or MetaTrader 4. For advanced charting and forex analysis, the ProRealTime software is available. Testing shows forex spreads are competitive, beginning at 0.1 pips on major pairs such as EUR/USD.
GBPUSD Spread EURUSD Spread GBPEUR Spread 0.9 0.8 0.9 Total Assets FCA Regulated Platforms 80+ Yes Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
Pepperstone
XTB
Interactive Brokers
Vantage FX
Forex.com
Eightcap
IGSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the Trading EUR/USD are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Vantage FX | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Forex.com | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the Trading EUR/USD support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Vantage FX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Forex.com | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the Trading EUR/USD at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| XTB | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Interactive Brokers | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Vantage FX | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Forex.com | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Eightcap | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the Trading EUR/USD good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Support Rating | Education Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| XTB | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | $0 | $100 | ||
| Vantage FX | ✔ | $50 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Forex.com | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Eightcap | ✔ | £100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IG | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the Trading EUR/USD offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| XTB | - | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | Capitalise.ai, TWS API | ✘ | 1:50 | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Vantage FX | Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Forex.com | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Eightcap | TradingView Bots | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Trading EUR/USD.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| XTB | |||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | |||||||||
| Vantage FX | |||||||||
| Forex.com | |||||||||
| Eightcap | |||||||||
| IG |
Our Take On Pepperstone
"Pepperstone is a premier trading platform, providing tight spreads, swift execution, and sophisticated charting tools for seasoned traders. Beginners benefit from no minimum deposit, comprehensive learning materials, and outstanding 24/7 support."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, delivering a streamlined and tax-efficient trading experience with sophisticated analytical tools.
- In recent years, Pepperstone has significantly enhanced the deposit and withdrawal process. By 2025, clients can use Apple Pay and Google Pay, while 2024 saw the introduction of PIX and SPEI for customers in Brazil and Mexico.
- Pepperstone offers rapid execution speeds of approximately 30ms, enabling swift order processing and execution, making it ideal for traders.
Cons
- Pepperstone doesn't offer cTrader Copy, a favoured feature for copying trades found in the cTrader platform, which is available on other platforms such as IC Markets. However, Pepperstone has launched its own user-friendly copy trading app.
- Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.
- Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
Our Take On XTB
"XTB excels for novice traders with its superb xStation platform, minimal trading costs, no required deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are fully integrated into the platform."William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
- Setting up an XTB account is straightforward and fully online, requiring only a few minutes. This simplicity eases new traders into the world of trading.
- XTB processes withdrawals swiftly, paying within 3 business days, subject to the method and amount.
Cons
- The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
- XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
- It is frustrating that XTB products do not allow traders to modify the default leverage level. Manually adjusting leverage can greatly reduce risk in forex and CFD trading.
Our Take On Interactive Brokers
"Interactive Brokers ranks highly for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, live data, and bespoke layouts via the new IBKR Desktop app. Its competitive pricing and sophisticated order choices appeal to traders, and its wide equity options are industry-leading."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Interactive Brokers has been awarded Best US Broker for 2025 by DayTrading.com. This accolade highlights its dedication to traders in the US, offering exceptionally low margin rates and access to global markets at minimal expense.
- While initially targeting seasoned traders, IBKR has recently widened its appeal by eliminating its $10,000 minimum deposit requirement.
- A wide range of third-party research subscriptions, both free and paid, are available for traders. Additionally, by subscribing to Toggle AI, traders can receive commission rebates from IBKR.
Cons
- Support can be sluggish and frustrating. Tests reveal that you may face challenges reaching customer service quickly, which could result in delays in issue resolution.
- You are limited to a single active session per account, meaning you cannot use both your desktop programme and mobile app at the same time. This restriction can occasionally lead to a frustrating experience for traders.
- The learning curve for TWS is quite steep, making it tough for novice traders to navigate and grasp all its features. In contrast, Plus500's web platform is far more accessible for those new to trading.
Our Take On Vantage FX
"Vantage is an ideal choice for CFD traders looking for a well-regulated broker with access to the dependable MetaTrader platforms. With a swift sign-up process and a minimum deposit of $50, starting trading is simple and fast."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Vantage has enhanced its trading tools for experienced traders, introducing AutoFibo EA to pinpoint potential market reversals.
- ECN accounts offer competitive terms, featuring spreads starting at 0.0 pips and a commission of $1.50 per trade side.
- Vantage addresses the needs of passive investors through user-friendly social trading on ZuluTrade and Myfxbook.
Cons
- Based on tests, average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower compared to other options.
- It's unfortunate that some clients must register with the offshore firm, which provides reduced regulatory safeguards.
- To access optimal trading conditions, a substantial deposit of $10,000 is required. This includes a commission of $1.50 per transaction per side.
Our Take On Forex.com
"FOREX.com excels in serving traders of all levels, offering more than 80 currency pairs, spreads starting at 0.0 pips, and competitive commissions. Its robust charting platforms provide over 100 technical indicators and comprehensive research tools."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- The in-house Web Trader continues to stand out as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
- An abundance of educational resources is available, such as tutorials, webinars, and an extensive YouTube channel, designed to enhance your understanding of financial markets.
- FOREX.com provides top-tier forex rates beginning at 0.0 pips, along with attractive cashback rebates up to 15% for dedicated traders.
Cons
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform provides around 600 instruments, a notable reduction compared to the more than 5,500 options on its other platforms.
- Demo accounts are typically limited to 90 days, hindering effective strategy testing.
- US clients are not protected against negative balances, which means you could end up owing more than your initial deposit.
Our Take On Eightcap
"Eightcap excels for traders, offering diverse charting platforms, educational Labs, and AI tools. With over 120 crypto CFDs, it stands out in crypto trading and has won our 'Best Crypto Broker' award twice consecutively."William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- With spreads starting at 0 pips, minimal commission charges, and leverage up to 1:500 for select clients, Eightcap delivers affordable and flexible trading opportunities. These conditions suit various strategies, such as trading and scalping.
- Eightcap excels with a suite of advanced trading tools, such as MT4 and MT5, and has recently joined the 100-million-user social trading network, TradingView.
- Eightcap has excelled in all essential trading areas, surpassing all rivals to clinch our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024. It also earned the titles of 'Best Crypto Broker' and 'Best TradingView Broker' for 2025.
Cons
- Eightcap must enhance its range of over 800 instruments to rival top competitors like Blackbull Markets, which offers 26,000+ assets, especially improving its limited commodities selection.
- Despite the growing range of tools available, Eightcap lacks popular industry resources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. These provide advanced charting analytics, live news, and essential market insights for traders focused on short-term strategies.
- Despite a helpful array of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap lags behind IG's extensive resources for aspiring traders. IG boasts a dedicated Academy app and features 18 diverse course categories.
Our Take On IG
"IG offers a complete package: an easy-to-use web platform, top-tier beginner education, enhanced charting via TradingView, up-to-date data, and strong trade execution for seasoned traders."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- The web-based platform supports traders at every level, offering advanced charting tools and real-time market data vital for trading. Additionally, IG now includes TradingView integration.
- As a seasoned broker, IG adheres to stringent regulatory standards across various regions, ensuring significant trust.
- IG excels with its diverse instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it provides US-listed futures, options, and an AI Index, ensuring varied diversification opportunities.
Cons
- IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
- In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
- Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.
The EUR/USD Explained
The Euro (EUR) is the authorised currency of respective European nations, used by over 400 million people each day. The US Dollar (USD) is the currency of the United States of America. The strength and value of both currencies are determined by geopolitical events, along with stability policies implemented by the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve.
The exchange rate forecast of the pair is simply the buy or sell price of the EUR vs USD, for example, a rate of 1.2176 means that 1 Euro would buy you 1.2176 US Dollars.
History Of The EUR/USD
The EUR/USD currency pair is a relatively new concept. The Euro came into existence in 1999 and was established by the European Community members and the European Currency Unit (ECU). Exchange rate history shows that the original EUR/USD live rate was 1.1686 in 1999.
Many economic events have impacted the EUR/USD price over the years, including Brexit and US presidential elections. Historical data graphs show the turbulent outlook of the FX pair, with monetary policies such as Quantitive Easing (QE) brought in by central banks in an effort to protect the strength of the currencies.
Despite a time when it looked as if the Euro may overtake the US Dollar as the world’s leading currency, the USD remains supreme. In fact, many smaller countries still peg the value of their local currency to that of the USD. The Euro is the world’s second largest currency.
Price Movement
To start trading the EUR/USD pair, you need a strategy that can help predict live and future price movements. Two leading techniques are fundamental analysis and technical analysis.
Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis involves analysing related economic data, including GDP growth, unemployment levels, industry sentiment, and interest rates. This information can help you understand whether the Euro is likely to strengthen or weaken against the US Dollar. Many top forex brokers today offer integrated economic calendars with the latest news bulletins to support fundamental analysis.
Technical Analysis
Technical analysis involves inspecting price data to identify patterns. These graphical patterns can be used to inform investment decisions. Online volume charts and a host of technical indicators, including pivot points, can help you understand EURUSD market sentiment.
Essentially, historical price data can be used to identify entry and exit points along with resistance and support levels. Candlestick charts, for example, can point to bullish price patterns using a sequences of bars while the Elliott Wave theory and analysis can be used to show recurrent price movements and trend patterns in the financial markets.
EUR/USD Trading Strategies
There are many strategy and indicator options to outline how to enter and exit trades:
- Timing – While different strategies will focus on particular opportunities, you may want to focus on when the market is most active. Volume charts show that for the EUR/USD currency pair, that’s between 13:00 and 16:00 GMT when both London and New York are open.
- Breakout & Breakdown – If you analyse live price charts, you will see the EURUSD swings back and forth within clear ranges for much of the trading day. This can indicate trends towards new highs and lows. This can help you spot when support and resistance levels may break, which can lead to a rally or a sell-off. Always remember that it’s important to use tight stops and limits to protect your position in case the forex market moves against you.
Other useful indicators worth exploring when trading the EURUSD include Bollinger Bands, relative strength index indicators, Keltner channel volatility indicators and moving averages. All can can be implemented on the majority of live price charts and can be used to build an effective strategy.
It’s also worth considering the type of EUR/USD investing that you’re interested in:
- Intraday trading – This will require time, careful analysis and an excellent broker with powerful realtime price charts.
- Swing trading – Suitable for trading over a day or several days, swing trading lets you profit from notable price trends
- Scalping – Another popular short-term strategy, traders open and close a large number of positions, often on short 1-minute or 5-minute trading charts.
- Longer-term investing – Rather than active day trading, perhaps you want to take a monthly or yearly view on the direction of the Euro or US Dollar. In which case, you may want to buy and hold a large amount of one currency for an extended period.
Trading Hours
Trading the EUR/USD is possible 24/5 Monday through to Friday. However, as noted above, certain times see the most trading volume. And it’s often during this heightened period of activity that you’ll see the greatest pip value movement along with the tightest spreads and volatility leading to greater profits and reduced commissions. Between 1 pm and 4 pm GMT is when both London and New York are open and most trading on the EUR/USD currency pair takes place.
EUR USD forex trading
EUR/USD Investing Tips
Evaluate premarket conditions to understand the expected strength and direction of the EUR/USD before you start trading. Many brokers now offer weekly, monthly, or the latest FX rate forecasts, along with interactive charts, forums, and predictions for the currency pair today.
Other useful tools include a pip value calculator, leverage and margin calculators and risk management alerts. You can also download historical exchange rate data to excel, covering 5-minute and 30-minute graphs to 20-year or all time price charts. All of these tools can supplement trading.
Pros Of Trading The EUR/USD
There are several reasons to start investing in the EUR/USD:
- Most actively traded FX pair
- Competitive pricing quotes and tight spreads
- Multiple investment vehicles, from CFDs to binary options
- Extensive tools with live outlook projections and expectations of forward rates
Cons Of Trading The EUR/USD
- Leveraged investing can lead to large losses
- Fees, such as overnight interest and swap points
- Intraday forecasts and correlations don’t always follow expected patterns
- Traders are up against institutional investors with advanced automated investing algorithms
Final Word On Trading EUR/USD
The EUR/USD is the most actively traded currency pair. Each currency follow some of the world’s leading economic powers, bringing with it ample investing opportunities. With the right trading window and an effective strategy, the major FX pair offers high volatility along with serious profit potential. There’s also an excellent range of tools available online to help you understand central bank decisions, political news events, and market sentiment. Most brokers also offer a suite of tools, historical data downloads and real-time analysis tools to help you start investing.
Find out more about forex trading.
FAQ
What Is The EUR/USD Pair?
The EUR/USD is the abbreviated way to describe the Euro and US Dollar forex major. The currency pair shows how many US Dollars (quote currency) are needed to buy one Euro (base currency). The pair reflects the two largest and most powerful global currencies and can be used by investors to speculate on the relative strength of each currency. Forex trading on the EUR/USD pair usually takes place via a networks of banks through the decentralised OTC market.
Which Is The Base Currency In The EUR/USD Pair?
In this case, the Euro would be the base currency and the US Dollar the quote currency. The base currency signifies how much of the quote currency is needed for one unit of the base currency. EUR/USD bid and ask price reflects how much of the quoted currency can be bought or sold for one unit of the base currency.
When Is Best To Buy Or Sell The EUR/USD?
Many factors impact when to buy or sell currency pairs such as the EUR/USD. Market opening times, your investment strategy, historical data, price signals for today, and next week’s forecast may all influence expected buy and sell opportunities. Crucially, the right time to buy or sell is when you are most confident the market is going to spike or drop so you can implement a strategy that capitalises on the trend.
What Are EUR/USD Futures?
Forex futures are exchange rate traded contracts to buy or sell a specific currency, such as the EUR/USD, at a set price in the future. Forward contracts are available at multiple online brokers and offer an alternative investment vehicle to short-term day trading. You can also trade mini futures at a fraction of the corresponding futures contract. As with short-term forex investing, forward curves can be projected on broker charts and quotes are available through trading platforms.
When Is The Best Time To Trade EUR/USD Binary Options?
The best time to trade EUR/USD is arguably between 1 pm and 4 pm GMT. This is the crossover period when both London and New York markets are open and spreads are normally tightest. With that said, different strategies will lend themselves to different market windows.