| name | forex-list |
| description | Retrieve a full listing of actively traded currency pairs in the global forex market using Octagon MCP. Use when researching forex markets, understanding currency pair categories, analyzing major/minor/exotic pairs, and identifying trading opportunities. |
Forex List
Retrieve comprehensive information about actively traded currency pairs in the global forex market using the Octagon MCP server.
Prerequisites
Ensure Octagon MCP is configured in your AI agent (Cursor, Claude Desktop, Windsurf, etc.). See references/mcp-setup.md for installation instructions.
Workflow
1. Define Scope
Determine which currency pair categories you want to explore:
- Majors: USD paired with major currencies
- Crosses: Major currencies without USD
- Exotics: Emerging market currencies
2. Execute Query via Octagon MCP
Use the octagon-agent tool with a natural language prompt:
Retrieve a full listing of actively traded currency pairs in the global forex market.
MCP Call Format:
{
"server": "octagon-mcp",
"toolName": "octagon-agent",
"arguments": {
"prompt": "Retrieve a full listing of actively traded currency pairs in the global forex market."
}
}
3. Expected Output
The agent returns categorized currency pair information:
| Currency Pair | Description/Reason for Activity |
|---|
| EUR/USD | Most liquid pair, Eurozone and U.S. economic interdependence |
| GBP/USD | High liquidity, sensitive to U.K./U.S. macroeconomic data |
| USD/JPY | Japanese Yen safe-haven status, U.S. interest rates |
| AUD/USD | Commodity price trends, Australian/U.S. economic cycles |
| USD/CHF | Swiss Franc safe-haven, U.S. monetary policy |
| CAD/USD | Oil prices, North American economic indicators |
| EUR/CHF | Range-bound markets, Euro-Swiss Franc correlations |
| AUD/NZD | Cross-Pacific trade, commodity-linked volatility |
Data Sources: octagon-crypto-agent, octagon-web-search-agent
4. Interpret Results
See references/interpreting-results.md for guidance on:
- Understanding currency pair categories
- Analyzing liquidity and volatility
- Identifying key drivers
- Selecting pairs for trading
Example Queries
Full Listing:
Retrieve a full listing of actively traded currency pairs in the global forex market.
Major Pairs:
List the major currency pairs with USD.
Cross Pairs:
What are the most liquid cross currency pairs?
Exotic Pairs:
List emerging market currency pairs.
Specific Focus:
Which currency pairs are most sensitive to oil prices?
Currency Pair Categories
Major Pairs (USD Based)
| Pair | Base/Quote | Nickname |
|---|
| EUR/USD | Euro / US Dollar | Fiber |
| GBP/USD | British Pound / US Dollar | Cable |
| USD/JPY | US Dollar / Japanese Yen | Gopher |
| USD/CHF | US Dollar / Swiss Franc | Swissie |
| AUD/USD | Australian Dollar / US Dollar | Aussie |
| USD/CAD | US Dollar / Canadian Dollar | Loonie |
| NZD/USD | New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar | Kiwi |
Cross Pairs (Non-USD)
| Pair | Base/Quote | Category |
|---|
| EUR/GBP | Euro / British Pound | Euro Cross |
| EUR/JPY | Euro / Japanese Yen | Euro Cross |
| EUR/CHF | Euro / Swiss Franc | Euro Cross |
| GBP/JPY | British Pound / Japanese Yen | Pound Cross |
| AUD/JPY | Australian Dollar / Japanese Yen | Yen Cross |
| AUD/NZD | Australian Dollar / New Zealand Dollar | Commodity Cross |
Exotic Pairs
| Pair | Base/Quote | Region |
|---|
| USD/MXN | US Dollar / Mexican Peso | Americas |
| USD/ZAR | US Dollar / South African Rand | Africa |
| USD/TRY | US Dollar / Turkish Lira | Europe/Asia |
| USD/SGD | US Dollar / Singapore Dollar | Asia |
| EUR/PLN | Euro / Polish Zloty | Europe |
| USD/HKD | US Dollar / Hong Kong Dollar | Asia |
Understanding Currency Pairs
Base vs. Quote Currency
EUR/USD = 1.10
| Component | In Example |
|---|
| Base Currency | EUR (first) |
| Quote Currency | USD (second) |
| Meaning | 1 EUR = 1.10 USD |
| If pair rises | Base strengthens |
| If pair falls | Base weakens |
Bid/Ask Spread
| Concept | Description |
|---|
| Bid | Price to sell base |
| Ask | Price to buy base |
| Spread | Ask - Bid (cost to trade) |
Liquidity and Volume
By Daily Volume
| Tier | Pairs | Typical Volume |
|---|
| Tier 1 | EUR/USD | Highest |
| Tier 2 | USD/JPY, GBP/USD | Very High |
| Tier 3 | AUD/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF | High |
| Tier 4 | Cross Pairs | Moderate |
| Tier 5 | Exotic Pairs | Lower |
Spread Implications
| Liquidity | Typical Spread |
|---|
| Very High (EUR/USD) | 0.5-1 pips |
| High (USD/JPY) | 1-2 pips |
| Moderate (Crosses) | 2-5 pips |
| Low (Exotics) | 5-50+ pips |
Key Drivers by Pair
EUR/USD Drivers
| Factor | Impact |
|---|
| ECB Policy | Euro direction |
| Fed Policy | USD direction |
| EU Economic Data | Growth, inflation |
| US Economic Data | Employment, GDP |
| Risk Sentiment | Dollar haven flows |
USD/JPY Drivers
| Factor | Impact |
|---|
| BoJ Policy | Yen direction |
| Fed Policy | USD direction |
| Risk Appetite | Yen weakens on risk-on |
| Yield Differentials | Carry trade flows |
| Intervention Risk | BoJ action |
Commodity Currency Drivers
| Pair | Key Commodity Link |
|---|
| AUD/USD | Iron ore, gold |
| USD/CAD | Oil prices |
| NZD/USD | Dairy, agriculture |
Trading Sessions
Session Times (UTC)
| Session | Hours | Key Pairs |
|---|
| Sydney | 21:00-06:00 | AUD, NZD |
| Tokyo | 00:00-09:00 | JPY pairs |
| London | 07:00-16:00 | EUR, GBP |
| New York | 12:00-21:00 | USD pairs |
Overlap Periods
| Overlap | Highest Volatility Pairs |
|---|
| London/New York | EUR/USD, GBP/USD |
| Tokyo/London | EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY |
| Sydney/Tokyo | AUD/JPY, NZD/JPY |
Volatility Characteristics
By Pair Type
| Type | Volatility | Predictability |
|---|
| Majors | Moderate | Higher |
| Crosses | Variable | Moderate |
| Exotics | High | Lower |
Typical Daily Ranges
| Pair | Avg Daily Range |
|---|
| EUR/USD | 50-100 pips |
| GBP/USD | 80-150 pips |
| USD/JPY | 50-100 pips |
| GBP/JPY | 100-200 pips |
| Exotics | 100-500+ pips |
Common Use Cases
Market Overview
What are the most actively traded forex pairs?
Trading Selection
Which pairs have the tightest spreads?
Risk Analysis
Which currency pairs are most volatile?
Correlation Study
What pairs move together with oil prices?
Session Planning
What pairs are most active during Asian session?
Analysis Tips
-
Start with majors: Most liquid, tightest spreads.
-
Understand correlations: EUR/USD and USD/CHF often inverse.
-
Match session to pair: Trade pairs during their active hours.
-
Consider spreads: Exotics cost more to trade.
-
Know the drivers: Central banks, data releases, geopolitics.
-
Monitor risk sentiment: Affects safe-haven flows.
Integration with Other Skills
| Skill | Combined Use |
|---|
| forex-quote | Real-time pair prices |
| commodities-quote | Commodity currency context |
| stock-historical-index | Risk sentiment context |
| sector-performance-snapshot | Global macro view |
