Trade USD/CHF, the safe-haven major
USD/CHF prices how many Swiss francs one US dollar buys. The franc is one of the world's classic safe havens, backed by Switzerland's political stability and strong external position, so the pair often reacts to shifts in global risk sentiment.
- 24/5 trading
- Buy or sell
- Regulated by FSC Mauritius
USD/CHF
Spreads from, pips · Premium
1.0
About USD/CHF
US dollar vs Swiss franc
Switzerland's economy is closely tied to the euro area, so USD/CHF often moves as a near mirror image of EUR/USD: when the dollar strengthens broadly, EUR/USD tends to fall and USD/CHF tends to rise. Traders use the pair to diversify dollar exposure away from the euro.
The Swiss National Bank has a long record of acting on the franc, from buying foreign currency to limit its strength to removing the EUR/CHF floor without warning in January 2015. SNB decisions come only four times a year, which makes each one a significant event for the pair.
- MT5 symbol
- USDCHF
- Known as
- Swissie
- Pip size
- 0.0001
- Trading hours
- 24/5
- Central banks
- US Federal Reserve and Swiss National Bank
- Pip value (1 lot)
- CHF 10 per standard lot (about $12.50 at 0.8000)
- Character
- Safe-haven franc, often mirrors EUR/USD
What moves it
4 forces that drive USD/CHF
Safe-haven demand
In periods of geopolitical or market stress, money tends to flow into the franc, pushing USD/CHF lower.
SNB policy
Quarterly SNB assessments set rates and signal its willingness to intervene in currency markets.
Fed and US data
As with every dollar pair, US payrolls, inflation and Fed decisions drive much of the day-to-day movement.
Link with the euro
Because Switzerland trades heavily with the euro area, euro news often spills over into the franc.
When to trade
Best hours and key releases for USD/CHF
Most active: The European session and the London–New York overlap (roughly 12:00–16:00 GMT).
| Session | GMT | UAE time |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 21:00–06:00 | 01:00–10:00 |
| Tokyo | 00:00–09:00 | 04:00–13:00 |
| LondonActive | 07:00–16:00 | 11:00–20:00 |
| New YorkActive | 12:00–21:00 | 16:00–01:00 |
Releases that move USD/CHF
- SNB monetary policy assessmentFour times a year (March, June, September, December).
- Swiss CPIMonthly.
- KOF economic barometerMonthly leading indicator.
- US payrolls and CPIMonthly.
- FOMC rate decisionEight times a year.
Spreads can widen and prices can gap around these releases. Check an economic calendar for exact dates and times.
Pricing
USD/CHF spreads by account
Choose the account that fits your trading. The live USD/CHF spread is always shown in MT5 before you place an order.
Classic
Spread-only, no commission
Spreads from
1.6 pips
- Commission
- None
- Min. deposit
- $100
Premium
Lower spreads, no commission
Spreads from
1.0 pips
- Commission
- None
- Min. deposit
- $3,000
VIP
Raw spreads plus commission
Spreads from
0.0 pips
- Commission
- $6 per 1.00 lot round turn, proportional to lot size
- Min. deposit
- $25,000
* Indicative typical spreads, may vary; last updated 28 September 2026. Spreads are variable and may widen during news releases and low-liquidity sessions. Commissions may apply depending on account type.
Leverage magnifies both gains and losses. Maximum leverage depends on the instrument, account type and your jurisdiction.
Get started
How to trade USD/CHF on MT5
- 1
Open an account
Register online, verify your identity and choose Classic, Premium or VIP. - 2
Fund your account
Deposit with one of the available methods in the client portal. - 3
Find USDCHF in MT5
Log in to MetaTrader 5, open Market Watch and add USDCHF to see the live price and spread. - 4
Plan and place the trade
Set your position size and stop-loss, then choose Buy if you expect the pair to rise or Sell if you expect it to fall.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Forex prices, including USD/CHF, can move quickly against you, especially around news releases.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the spread on USD/CHF at IST Markets?
Spreads on IST Markets accounts start from 1.6 pips on Classic, 1.0 pips on Premium and 0.0 pips plus commission on VIP. The spread on USD/CHF is variable and depends on market conditions; the live spread is always shown in MT5 before you trade.
What is the pip value of USD/CHF?
One pip on USD/CHF is a price move of 0.0001. On one standard lot it is worth CHF 10 per standard lot (about $12.50 at 0.8000); a mini lot (0.10) is worth a tenth of that and a micro lot (0.01) a hundredth. Use the free pip calculator to work it out for your trade size.
What is the best time to trade USD/CHF?
The pair trades 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday. It is usually most active during The European session and the London–New York overlap (roughly 12:00–16:00 GMT). Liquidity tends to be thinnest around the daily rollover and late on Fridays, when spreads can widen.
Why is the Swiss franc a safe haven?
Switzerland has long-standing political neutrality, low public debt, a large current-account surplus and a strong banking system. Investors have historically bought francs when markets turn volatile.
Why does USD/CHF move opposite to EUR/USD?
The dollar is on opposite sides of the two pairs (quote currency in EUR/USD, base in USD/CHF), and the franc often trades in line with the euro. So broad dollar moves tend to push the two pairs in opposite directions, though the correlation is not perfect.
Ready to trade USD/CHF on MT5?
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