When asking what pairs move 100 pips a day, traders often look at highly volatile markets like GBP/JPY, GBP/NZD, or even XAU/USD. These currency pairs regularly swing over 100 pips thanks to liquidity, news releases, and time zone overlaps.
This Defcofx guide explains which pairs move big, why they do, and how to trade them safely.
Key Takeaways
- Certain currency pairs consistently move 100 pips a day due to high volatility.
- GBP/JPY, GBP/NZD, and gold (XAU/USD) are among the most popular 100-pip movers.
- Market sessions, economic data, and geopolitical events fuel daily pip swings.
- ATR (Average True Range) helps quantify and confirm high-volatility pairs.
- Trading 100-pip movers requires disciplined risk management and well-placed stops.
Identifying High-Volatility Pairs
Some currency pairs naturally move more each day than others, making them ideal for traders chasing large intraday swings. Historically, the following pairs often achieve or exceed 100 pips of daily movement:
GBP/JPY – The Dragon
Nicknamed the “Dragon,” GBP/JPY is one of the most volatile forex pairs. Daily moves of 100 pips or more are common because it combines the British pound’s sensitivity to economic news with the yen’s safe-haven flows. Traders especially see large moves during the London–Tokyo and London–New York overlaps.
GBP/NZD – The Beast
GBP/NZD is another high-volatility cross often called the “Beast.” With spreads wider than majors but average daily ranges exceeding 150 pips, it offers frequent opportunities. This pair reacts strongly to commodity prices (New Zealand dollar) and UK economic releases, often resulting in explosive one-day moves.
XAU/USD – Gold vs Dollar
While not a currency pair in the strictest sense, gold (XAU/USD) behaves like one against the dollar. It regularly exceeds 100 pips of daily movement, especially during periods of risk-on/risk-off sentiment. For traders applying a 100-pip forex strategy, gold is often the go-to instrument.
4 Main Causes of Large Daily Price Moves
Volatility doesn’t happen by accident. Certain forces repeatedly drive forex pairs to move more than 100 pips in a single day. By understanding these drivers, traders can anticipate when large swings are most likely and prepare their strategies accordingly.
Market Sessions
The forex market runs 24 hours, but not all hours are equal. The London session is known as the volatility powerhouse, with GBP, EUR, and CHF pairs seeing the most activity. This session often delivers 50–100 pip moves within hours, thanks to European data releases and high liquidity.
The London–New York overlap (around 1–4 pm GMT) is the most active period of the entire trading day. Both major financial hubs are open, spreads are tight, and news from the U.S. often coincides with London flows. It’s no surprise that GBP/USD, EUR/USD, and GBP/JPY frequently surge over 100 pips during this overlap.
By contrast, the Asian session tends to be quieter for majors but can spark significant moves in JPY, AUD, and NZD pairs when regional economic data or Bank of Japan interventions occur.
Economic Releases
Economic announcements are among the most consistent catalysts for big daily swings. Events like
- Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP): A strong or weak U.S. jobs report can easily push USD pairs 100–150 pips in minutes.
- Inflation Data (CPI, PPI): Surprises in inflation often shift interest rate expectations, sending pairs like GBP/USD or EUR/USD sharply higher or lower.
- Interest Rate Decisions: When central banks like the Bank of England or Federal Reserve announce policy changes, pairs such as GBP/JPY and USD/JPY can spike aggressively.
Traders who align technical setups with these releases often capture some of the largest moves of the month.
Geopolitical Events
Markets don’t just react to numbers; they react to uncertainty. Geopolitical developments often spark volatility far beyond normal technical ranges. Examples include:
- Brexit Headlines: GBP pairs repeatedly surged or crashed 100+ pips in a single session during key announcements.
- Central Bank Speeches: Unexpectedly hawkish or dovish tones from policymakers like Jerome Powell or Andrew Bailey can shift sentiment immediately.
- Global Conflicts or Sanctions: These events often affect oil, gold, and commodity-linked currencies. For instance, tensions in the Middle East regularly push CAD/JPY or XAU/USD beyond 100 pips.
In many cases, geopolitical events create sustained volatility, not just one-off spikes, making them critical for traders to monitor.
Commodity Correlations
Currencies tied to natural resources often move in sync with commodity prices. This correlation can amplify volatility:
- CAD and Oil: A $5–10 swing in crude oil can send USD/CAD moving 100 pips or more.
- AUD and Iron Ore/Gold: Australia’s export-driven economy makes AUD pairs sensitive to commodity demand from China.
- NZD and Dairy: While less discussed, dairy prices influence New Zealand’s trade balance and can impact NZD crosses.
By tracking commodity price shifts alongside forex charts, traders can anticipate outsized moves in CAD, AUD, and NZD pairs.
The biggest daily pip moves usually occur when multiple factors converge. For example, a U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls report released during the London–New York overlap, combined with a geopolitical headline, can trigger massive 200+ pip moves in USD/JPY or GBP/USD.
| Pair / Asset | Average Daily Range | Main Volatility Drivers | Best Session for Big Moves |
| GBP/JPY | 120–150 pips | BoE decisions, UK data, risk sentiment | London, London–NY overlap |
| GBP/NZD | 150+ pips | UK data, NZ commodity prices, risk flows | London, Asian–London overlap |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | 150–250 pips | Risk-on/off sentiment, Fed policy, USD strength | London–NY overlap |
| USD/CAD | 90–130 pips | Oil prices, Canadian data, U.S. releases | NY session |
| EUR/AUD | 100–140 pips | Eurozone data, AUD commodity ties, China demand | London–Asian overlap |
5 Trading Strategies for 100-Pip Movers
Catching 100-pip moves sounds attractive, but it requires discipline and planning. Volatile pairs can hand out large rewards, but they can also cause oversized losses if traded recklessly. The key is building a trading strategy that balances opportunity with risk control.
Position Sizing for Volatile Pairs
One of the most common mistakes traders make is using the same lot size across all pairs. For example, trading GBP/JPY (which moves 120–150 pips daily) with the same lot size as EUR/USD (which averages 60–80 pips) often leads to oversized risk.
The solution is to adjust lot sizes based on volatility:
- Use smaller positions on pairs like GBP/JPY or GBP/NZD.
- Use slightly larger positions on steadier majors like EUR/USD or USD/CHF.
This ensures that the risk per trade stays consistent, no matter the pair’s volatility.
Stop-Loss Placement with ATR
High-volatility pairs require wider stops, because price swings are naturally larger. If stops are too tight, even a normal pullback can knock you out before the move takes off.
Using the Average True Range (ATR) helps size stops correctly:
- If GBP/JPY’s ATR is 120 pips, a stop of 30 pips is unrealistic.
- A stop of 60–70 pips may fit better, balancing room for fluctuations with capital protection.
This doesn’t mean accepting oversized losses; simply reduce your lot size so that your monetary risk stays the same even with a wider stop.
Avoiding Overtrading
Pairs that move 100 pips daily can trigger multiple signals in one session. The temptation to trade every swing is strong, but it often leads to emotional mistakes. Instead:
- Only take trades with technical confluence (support/resistance + candlestick + indicator).
- Confirm with fundamental drivers (e.g., trading GBP/USD after strong UK CPI data).
- Set a daily trade limit (e.g., 2–3 trades max) to avoid burnout.
This ensures that you’re only entering the highest-probability setups, rather than chasing volatility for the sake of action.
Scaling into Big Moves
Instead of entering your full position at once, consider scaling in:
- Start with a small position at the initial breakout.
- Add more if the trend confirms with volume or news alignment.
- Manage the total position size carefully so you don’t exceed your risk cap.
This allows you to test market direction before committing fully, reducing the impact of false breakouts.
Technicals with Fundamentals
The most successful traders don’t rely on just one side of the market.
- Technical signals (breakouts, candlestick confirmations, moving averages)
- Fundamental catalysts (interest rate decisions, surprise news releases)
By combining the above, you increase the likelihood of catching a move that doesn’t just last 20–30 pips but extends the full 100 pips or more.
For example, a bullish breakout on GBP/USD that coincides with strong UK employment data is far more reliable than a breakout with no news backing it.
Want to trade pairs that move 100 pips a day with ultra-low spreads and fast execution? Start trading with Defcofx and take advantage of volatile market opportunities.
Open AccountWatchlist of Top Movers
As of recent market data, the following pairs frequently exceed 100 pips in daily range:
- GBP/JPY
- GBP/NZD
- XAU/USD
- EUR/AUD
- GBP/AUD
Having a watchlist ensures you focus on the pairs most likely to generate high-pip opportunities.
Conclusion
Some forex pairs like GBP/JPY, GBP/NZD, and gold (XAU/USD) are well known for their 100-pip daily swings. By understanding what drives their volatility, applying ATR analysis, and using disciplined risk management, traders can capture these moves without overexposing themselves.
With brokers like Defcofx, offering high leverage, no commissions, and ultra-fast withdrawals, you get the perfect environment to trade high-volatility pairs effectively. Defcofx provides:
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Open AccountFAQs
GBP/JPY, GBP/NZD, and XAU/USD are among the most consistent movers, often exceeding 100 pips daily. Cross pairs like EUR/AUD and GBP/AUD also frequently join this list.
Factors like market liquidity, economic releases, and geopolitical risk determine volatility. GBP crosses, for example, are influenced by both UK news and global sentiment, leading to bigger daily moves.
Use ATR to identify high-volatility pairs, wait for technical breakout setups, and confirm with fundamental catalysts. Keep stop-losses wide enough to avoid noise and size positions conservatively.
Yes, but only with strict risk management. Beginners should start with small lot sizes and focus on one or two volatile pairs rather than chasing every move.
Defcofx offers leverage up to 1:2000, low spreads from 0.3 pips, and fast withdrawals. This makes trading high-volatility pairs like GBP/JPY or gold smoother and cost-efficient, giving traders the flexibility to pursue big daily moves.
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