Trading USD/CHF

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James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he's worked on major operational transformation programmes at top European banks. A trusted industry name, James's work at DayTrading.com has been cited in publications like Business Insider.
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Jemma Grist
Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.
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William Berg
William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.
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The USD/CHF currency pair, also known as ‘Swissy’, is popular in the forex space despite coming with certain challenges. This page will break down the history of the USD/CHF relationship, including its benefits and risks. We also look at how to start trading the USD/CHF in 2025, by capitalising on volume and volatility with charts, strategy, signals and trading hours.

USD/CHF Trading Brokers

Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons

  1. Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
  2. OANDA US - OANDA is a popular brand offering exceptional execution, low deposit requirements and advanced charting and trading platform features. The top-rated brand has over 25 years of experience and is regulated by trusted agencies, including the NFA/CFTC. Around the clock support is available for short-term traders, alongside flexible contract sizes and automated trade executions.
  3. IC Markets - IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
  4. XM - XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker with 15+ million clients in 190+ countries. Since 2009, this trusted broker has been delivering low trading fees across its growing roster of 1000+ instruments. It’s also highly regulated, including by ASIC and CySEC and offers a comprehensive MetaTrader experience.
  5. AvaTrade - Established in 2006, AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Operating under regulation in 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade processes an impressive 2+ million trades each month. Through like MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTrader, the broker provides a growing selection of 1,250+ instruments. Whether it’s CFDs, AvaOptions, or the more recent AvaFutures, short-term traders at all levels will find opportunities. With terrific education and 24/5 multilingual customer support, AvaTrade delivers the complete trading experience.
  6. IC Trading - IC Trading is part of the established IC Markets group. Built for serious traders, it boasts some of the most competitive spreads, reliable order execution, and advanced trading tools. The catch is that it’s registered in the offshore financial centre of Mauritius, enabling it to offer high leverage but in a weakly regulated trading setting.

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
RegulatorFCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$100
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF
Currency PairsUSD/CHF, USD/JPY, USD/CNH

Pros

  • Interactive Brokers has launched ForecastTrader, a unique, zero-commission product where users can trade yes/no Forecast Contracts on political, economic, and climate events, with fixed $1 payouts per contract, 24/6 market access, and 3.83% APY on held positions.
  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
  • Interactive Brokers has been named Best US Broker for 2025 by DayTrading.com, recognizing its long-standing commitment to US traders, ultra-low margin rates, and global market access at minimal cost.

Cons

  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
  • Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.

OANDA US

"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."

Jemma Grist Jemma Grist, Reviewer

OANDA US Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
PlatformsOANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Currency PairsUSD/CHF, USD/JPY

Pros

  • There's a strong selection of 68 currency pairs for dedicated short-term forex traders
  • Day traders can enjoy fast and reliable order execution
  • The broker's API facilitates access to 25 years of deep historical data and rates from 200+ currencies

Cons

  • The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
  • There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
  • It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends

IC Markets

"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

IC Markets Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto
RegulatorASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA
PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
Minimum Deposit$200
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Currency PairsUSD/CHF, USD/JPY, USD/CNH, EUR/AUD, EUR/SGD, EUR/TRY, EUR/CAD, EUR/GBP, GBP/AUD, GBP/CAD, GBP/JPY, USD/HKD, USD/SGD, USD/THB

Pros

  • IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
  • IC Markets secured DayTrading.com's 'Best MT4/MT5 Broker' in 2025 for its seamless, industry-leading MetaTrader integration, refined over years to maximize the platform experience.
  • You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.

Cons

  • Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
  • The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
  • There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.

XM

"With a low $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting platforms in MT4 and MT5, expanding range of markets, and a Zero account offering spreads from 0.0, XM provides all the essentials for active traders, even earning our ‘Best MT4/MT5 Broker’ award in recent years."

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

XM Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies
RegulatorCySEC, DFSA, IFSC
PlatformsMT4, MT5, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$5
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:1000
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, JPY
Currency PairsUSD/CHF, EUR/AUD, EUR/JPY, EUR/SGD, EUR/TRY, EUR/CAD, EUR/GBP, GBP/AUD, GBP/CAD, GBP/JPY, NZD/SGD, USD/HKD, USD/SGD

Pros

  • XM’s customer support has delivered over years of testing, with 24/5 assistance in 25 languages, response times of under 2 minutes and a growing Telegram channel.
  • XM stands out for its commitment to trader education, with a wealth of well-presented resources, including webinars, tutorials, and even real-time trading sessions through XM Live.
  • XM’s growing roster of 1,000+ instruments provides diverse short-term trading opportunities, with unique turbo stocks, fractional shares, and more recently thematic indices.

Cons

  • While the XM app stands out for its usability and exclusive copy trading products, the selection of technical analysis tools needs to be improved to meet the needs of advanced traders.
  • XM relies solely on the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, so there’s no in-house downloadable or web-accessible solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.
  • Although trusted and generally well-regulated, the XM global entity is registered with the weak IFSC regulator and UK clients are no longer accepted, reducing its market reach.

AvaTrade

"AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets."

Jemma Grist Jemma Grist, Reviewer

AvaTrade Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures
RegulatorASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM
PlatformsWebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
Currency PairsUSD/CHF, USD/JPY

Pros

  • Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
  • The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.
  • Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Cons

  • AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.
  • Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
  • While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.

IC Trading

"With superior execution speeds averaging 40 milliseconds, deep liquidity, and powerful charting software, IC Trading delivers an optimal trading environment tailored for scalpers, day traders, and algorithmic traders. "

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

IC Trading Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptos, Futures
RegulatorFSC
PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$200
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:500
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Currency PairsUSD/CHF, USD/JPY

Pros

  • The simplified and digital account opening process saves time and effort, allowing traders to start trading sooner without extensive paperwork, taking just minutes during testing.
  • IC Trading provides industry-leading spreads, including 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD, making it ideal for day traders.
  • Trading Central and Autochartist are valuable tools for in-depth technical summaries and actionable trading ideas and are accessible from within the account area or the cTrader platform.

Cons

  • Unlike IC Markets, IC Trading does not support social trading through the group’s IC Social app or the third-party copy trading platform ZuluTrade.
  • Despite being part of the trusted IC Markets group, IC Trading is authorized by a weak regulator - the FSC of Mauritius, with limited financial transparency and regulatory safeguards.
  • The educational resources are greatly in need of improvement, unless you navigate to the IC Markets website, posing a limitation for beginners in search of a comprehensive learning journey, especially compared to category leaders like eToro.

Chart

Breaking Down ‘USD/CHF’

Firstly, what does USD/CHF mean? The exchange rate you see is simply how many Swiss francs (the quote currency) it will cost to buy one US dollar (the base currency).

The USD/CHF is one of the most popular traded currency pairs on the forex market. The CH stands for ‘Confoederatio Helvetica’. This is Latin for Switzerland. Whilst the F stands for ‘franc’.

But what makes this pairing so interesting?

  1.  The US dollar is the world’s largest and most actively traded currency. In fact, it represents approximately half the trading volume of all major currencies.
  2. The Swiss franc is popular because Switzerland holds an impressive one-third of the world’s privately-owned wealth in its banks.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that Switzerland is not the only country to use the Swiss franc. Liechtenstein, located between Switzerland and Austria and consisting of just 35,000 inhabitants, also use the Swiss franc.

Why Day Trade USD/CHF?

With so many currency pairings available, why does the USD/CHF currency pair deserve your attention?

Drawbacks & Risks

Although the USD/CHF pair comes with a number of benefits, there are also certain drawbacks and risks you should be aware of. The most significant of which are:

Influences on Movement

Trading the USD/CHF currency pair relies on a detailed understanding of what influences changes in prices and rates. Unfortunately, candlestick charts cannot give you the context that can often prove invaluable.

So, what affects movement in the USD/CHF exchange rate?

USD/CHF Currency Correlations

Currency pairs do not move independently of each other. Many are tied to the movement of other pairs. This is known as correlation. Correlation is a statistical measure, ranging from -1 to +1. You can have either:

Often the USD/CHF currency pair is negatively correlated with the EUR/USD. So, traders usually sell the USD/CHF when the EUR/USD price surges. The opposite then happens when the USD/CHF rallies.

There is also a negative correlation between the USD/CHF and the GBP/USD pairs. This is a result of the positive correlation of the Swiss franc, euro and British pound.

Switched on day traders will use this information to their advantage. Looking to other currency pairs may allow you to make more accurate short-term projections as to the movements of the USD/CHF.

USD/CHF Day Trading Strategy

Timing

One of the things that appeal about forex trading and investing is that markets are open 24/7, and you actually get a lot more profitable trading time with the USD/CHF pair than many others. You can trade the pair from Sunday evening until Friday afternoon in the US. However, both volume and volatility will vary throughout the day.

You will find both highs and lows during each 24-hour cycle, but bid-ask spreads will widen during quieter periods, then narrow during active periods. So, when is the best time to trade the USD/CHF pair?

The biggest daily moves often take place when Eurozone and Swiss economic data is released, plus at opening hours for equity, options and futures exchanges. A lot of the data mentioned on this page is usually released between 02:00 and 05:00 ET. The half an hour to one hour before these releases and the three hours afterwards will see the most activity.

Also, some US economic releases can come between 08:30 to 10:00 ET. Again, the periods preceding and following these releases can trigger price action. So, many strategies may benefit from focussing their attention on these time periods.

Traders should also note that forex action often drops significantly around the US lunch hour.

Example

If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward USD/CHF day trading strategy, then consider the example below.

Whilst some traders prefer a 5-minute or 15-minute real-time chart, for this basic strategy, a 1-hour chart is recommended.

You then simply need to mark the high and low of each candle of the trading day. Then your pending order buy should be entered 10 pips above the high. Whilst your pending order sell should be entered 10 pips below the low.

You will also need to minimise your risk and protect against substantial losses. So, place a stop-loss 30 pips from your buy/sell order.

The example here is basic. If you are looking for more detailed strategies, take a look at our strategy page.

News

Some people prefer day trading the USD/CHF currency pair using historical price charts and complex data. Whereas some focus on trading breaking news. News updates can quickly influence market sentiment.

However, to profit from these announcements you need to be tuned in and ready to react at a moment’s notice. Plus, you need access to reliable and thorough sources.

Below you will find some of the most popular and relevant news resources:

On top of breaking news announcements, these sources can also provide a number of other useful services:

So, if day trading on the USD/CHF using the news is part of your plan, all of the above are resources worth exploring.

History

Early History

Since the launch of the Swiss franc in 1850, the franc has enjoyed enormous strength as a currency. Today the USD/CHF pair now boasts the sixth-largest volume in the global forex space. Originally though, the history of the pair represented steady investment connections between the US and Switzerland.

Direct investments from the US to Switzerland have hit a massive $129.8 billion. As such, over the years the US has become Switzerland’s top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).

Both currencies have also benefited from strong trade ties. The US is Switzerland’s second-largest trade partner after Germany, representing a 10% share of Switzerland’s foreign trade. Conversely, Switzerland is the US’s 17th largest trading partner, worth just 1.4% of total US trade.

These trade and investment connections shaped much of the USD/CHF relationship for many years. Today, however, current prices and forex live charts respond to more current events.

Recent History

To some extent, the great depression shaped the Swiss franc we know today. It appreciated against all other major trading partners, except the Japanese yen. It grew so strong the SNB actually stepped in to intervene in the currency market.

The SNB aimed to halve the appreciation of the franc against the euro. However, the intervention had clearly failed by 2014. So spectacular was the failure that the franc surged, rallying over 25% in just a few minutes.

It is clear then that the SNB play a vital role in the FX market. This is particularly the case for those trading binary options based on the USD/CHF pair.

Many people do not realise the extent that movement in your live, forex interactive chart is influenced by past events. Events that if you know happened before, allow you to analyse and predict the effects on FX rates this time around.

Role of US Dollar

Whether your day trading strategy relies on support and resistance levels, daily pivot points, or breaking news, having a feel for the staggering role the US dollar plays will help you anticipate future price movement.

Below are some of the key roles the US dollar plays:

Just a brief look at a long-term USD/CHF chart will show you how prices and average daily ranges shift when announcements are made about the US dollar.

To understand whether the US dollar will strengthen or weaken against the Swiss franc then, you will need to consider a number of important economic indicators.

The most important of which, are as follows:

So, USD/CHF technical analysis and forecasts for today should take note of important data releases in the economic calendar.

Also, bear in mind the Federal Open market Committee holds eight regularly scheduled meetings per year and economic projections will be published along with press conferences every three weeks. All will result in the US dollar moving sharply against other currencies, including the Swiss franc.

Role of Swiss Franc

Getting to grips with USD/CHF day trading means understanding what drives the Swiss economy and franc. Switzerland has famously remained neutral in all major wars in Europe. It is also surrounded by the Alps and considered a stable, isolated nation. This has resulted in the Swiss franc becoming a safe haven currency when turmoil strikes.

This reputation is bolstered by their role in private banking. Despite rules loosening somewhat in the last ten years, Switzerland remains a huge global player in the private banking, insurance, and investment management sectors. They are home to global titans UBS and Credit Suisse.

However, focussing on economic activity in the Eurozone, which influences US movements, is perhaps more useful. 80% of Switzerland’s trade activity happens with the EU.

This means the SNB is often more concerned with its currency vs the euro than the US dollar. It usually only steps in if the franc is too weak or strong vs the euro. Why? Because this will benefit Swiss export businesses, that are mainly involved in trading with neighbouring countries.

To a certain extent then, the role of the Swiss franc and the size of the economy is determined by the successes of their major exporting industries. You will know of two of their big exporting industries, watches and pharmaceuticals.

Overall, your daily forex analysis will be influenced by the huge role the Swiss franc plays as a stable, safe-haven currency. Not to mention the support of the formidable banking system it has behind it.

Final Word on USD/CHF Trading

Day trading on the USD/CHF currency pair promises volatility, volume and liquidity. However, generating profits can prove challenging as the Swiss franc is seen as a safe-haven currency.

You will need to use in-depth technical analysis, calling on charts, patterns, the latest foreign exchange news, plus a range of economic resources and indicators. It is also important you find the best forex trading platform for your needs, who will facilitate fast and cost-effective trading.

If you can do all of the above, then you’re one step closer to joining the likes of hugely successful forex traders, such as George Soros and Richard Dennis.

For more guidance, see our forex page.

FAQ

What Is USD/CHF?

USD/CHF is one of the most popular traded currency pairs in the forex market, also known as the ‘Swissy’. The pair represents the exchange rate of how many Swiss francs (quote currency) it will cost to buy one US dollar (base currency).

Why Is Trading The USD/CHF So Popular?

The USD/CHF currency pair is popular due to the US dollar being the base currency (the world’s largest and most actively traded currency). In addition, the Swiss franc is often regarded as a safe haven currency, since Switzerland is a relatively stable country politically and financially.

What Are The Benefits Of Trading USD/CHF?

USD/CHF is less volatile than others pairs and also relatively liquid. Due to its stability, it is also fairly easy to apply technical and fundamental analysis when trading the currency pair. Traders can also enjoy a range of trading vehicles, such as futures, options and ETFs.

What Are The Risks Of Trading USD/CHF?

Due to less volatility than other pairs, traders may not have as many opportunities to profit from price swings. In addition, using leverage and margin when trading can carry some substantial risks.

How Can I Start Trading USD/CHF?

To start trading USD/CHF, you will need to register at an online broker. This will allow you to make a deposit and use the available trading platforms, such as MetaTrader 4. If you’re new to trading, it’s advised to start practising in a demo account first, which is usually offered for free.