Forex Cross Rate Calculator
What is a Cross Rate?
In the world of foreign exchange (Forex), a Cross Rate is the currency exchange rate between two currencies, both of which are not the official currency of the country in which the exchange quote is given. More commonly in trading, it refers to a currency pair that does not involve the US Dollar (USD).
Since the US Dollar is the primary reserve currency, most major pairs are quoted against it (e.g., EUR/USD, USD/JPY). To find the value of the Euro against the Japanese Yen (EUR/JPY) without a direct market quote, you calculate the "Cross Rate" derived from the two pairs that share the US Dollar as a common currency.
How to Calculate Cross Rates
The calculation depends on the position of the common currency (usually USD) in the two pairs you have available. There are three main scenarios:
1. The Multiplication Method
Use this method when the common currency is the Quote currency in the first pair and the Base currency in the second pair (or vice versa). The common currency effectively "cancels out."
Example: You want to find EUR/JPY.
- You have EUR/USD (1.1000)
- You have USD/JPY (135.00)
- Calculation: 1.1000 × 135.00 = 148.50 (EUR/JPY)
2. The Division Method (Base/Base)
Use this when the common currency is the Base currency for both pairs.
Example: You want to find CHF/JPY (Swiss Franc to Yen).
- You have USD/JPY (135.00)
- You have USD/CHF (0.9200)
- Calculation: 135.00 ÷ 0.9200 = 146.74 (CHF/JPY)
3. The Division Method (Quote/Quote)
Use this when the common currency is the Quote currency for both pairs.
Example: You want to find EUR/GBP.
- You have EUR/USD (1.1000)
- You have GBP/USD (1.2500)
- Calculation: 1.1000 ÷ 1.2500 = 0.8800 (EUR/GBP)
Why Use a Cross Rate Calculator?
While trading platforms calculate these automatically, understanding the mechanics is crucial for arbitrage strategies and understanding liquidity. Sometimes, calculating the synthetic cross rate manually can reveal discrepancies between the direct market price of a cross pair and its theoretical value derived from the majors, offering potential trading opportunities.