Indirect Quote

As an essential part of your trading journey, understanding the indirect quote will open up new strategies and opportunities. In this glossary entry, we help you delve deeper by covering what the indirect quote in trading is, its distinction from a direct quote, and how to use it effectively. Ready to boost your trading knowledge? Let's jump in.

Defining Indirect Quote

In trading, an indirect quote also known as "quantity quotation," is a currency pair quotation where the foreign currency is the base, and the domestic currency is the counter currency. This means it represents the amount of domestic currency you will need to spend to buy one unit of a foreign currency. For example, if you are in the United States and want to know how much USD you need to buy one Euro, you would look up the indirect quote.

Indirect Quote Vs. Direct Quote

The main difference between a direct quote and an indirect quote lies in what currency is regarded as the base. With a direct quote, the foreign currency is the counter or quoted currency, and the domestic one is the base. Basically, it's the opposite of the indirect quote. If an indirect quote tells you how much of your own currency it takes to purchase a unit of foreign currency, a direct quote tells you how much foreign currency you will get for your domestic currency.

How to Read An Indirect Quote

Interpreting an indirect quote is straightforward. Supposing the EUR/USD indirect quote is 1.20; this means that you need 1.20 USD to purchase one Euro. If the figure goes up to 1.30, it signifies the USD has weakened compared to the Euro, as you now need more USD to buy the same amount of Euros. If the number reduces to 1.10, the USD has strengthened, requiring less to purchase one Euro.

Application of Indirect Quotes

In trading, knowing the indirect quote is vital when dealing with currency pairs. It allows traders to evaluate the value of their base currency in relation to others and helps in making informed trading decisions. As a trader, you need to keep an eye on how these quotes change over time. A weakening domestic currency signaled by higher indirect quotes may mean it's a good time to sell, while a strengthening domestic currency signaled by lower indirect quotes could be a signal to buy.

Now that you know what an indirect quote is and how to use it in your trading strategy, you're one step closer to making more informed trading decisions. Continue to explore our glossary for more enlightening trading concepts. Happy trading!