The quote currency, or counter currency, is the second currency in any currency pair. It is always used to value the first currency (the base currency) in a foreign exchange transaction. Quote currency is always expressed in terms of the base currency; for example, a quote stating that the EUR/USD is 1.07965 would mean that for 1 Euro (the base currency) you would receive 1.07965 US Dollars (the quote currency). When making a transaction, the quote currency is the currency being sold in order to purchase the base currency.

In a direct quote, the quote currency is the foreign currency and the base currency is the domestic currency. In this case, the quote currency is the currency in which the foreign exchange rate is quoted. For instance, if the direct quote for the EUR/USD is 1.07965, it means that 1 Euro is equal to 1.07965 US Dollars.

In an indirect quote, the domestic currency is the quote currency and the foreign currency is the base currency. In this case, the quote currency is used to establish the value of the foreign currency compared to the domestic currency. For example, if the indirect quote for the GBP/USD is 1.54276, it means that 1 US Dollar is equal to 1.54276 British Pounds.

Knowing the answer one of these quotations is essential for traders and investors to determine their trading position for a given currency pair. Knowing which currency is the quote currency helps traders to understand how their trades will reflect in terms of their native currency, which makes them better prepared to manage any rate fluctuations.

In conclusion, the quote currency, also known as the counter currency, is the second currency in any currency pair and is used to value the first or base currency. The quote currency changes depending on whether the pair is quoted in a direct or an indirect quote. By knowing which currency is the quote currency, traders have an idea of how their trades will be reflected in terms of their native currency, and be better prepared to manage any rate fluctuations.