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      Alison Heyerdahl
      Edited by Alison Heyerdahl
      Author Chris Cammack
      Author

      Economic Calendar

      Use our economic calendar to explore key global events on the horizon that could subtly shift or substantially shake up the financial markets.

      As a Forex trader, staying informed and making well-timed decisions are vital to a successful trading strategy. Economic calendars are tools traders, investors, and economists use to track and monitor important national and international events and news releases that may impact the financial markets. 

      Recurring news events, such as the monthly NFP (Non-Farm Payroll) report, GDP (Gross Domestic Product) reports, inflation rates, central bank announcements, and other key economic indicators have predictable effects on price direction, trading volume and sentiment. 

      For British traders who trade the GBP/USD, various economic and political factors affect the Pound’s exchange rate. These include inflation rates, interest rate differentials between the Pound and US Dollar, and global commodity prices. British traders would therefore watch out for interest rate announcements from the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve, in addition to UK and US inflation rates.  Traders need to know when these events will occur and be prepared to trade the volatility they create.

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      Why Use an Economic Calendar?

      Economic calendars are especially useful for fundamental and positional traders who adopt a predictive approach to trading. They help traders anticipate potentially high-impact events and help them manage their risk exposure accordingly. As a result, traders may choose to adjust their positions, hedge their portfolios, or even avoid trading during times of heightened uncertainty.

      However, traders should be aware that unplanned events can also impact the currency markets. So, while most of the planned meetings and data releases will be in an economic calendar, it’s essential to keep abreast of other news that may affect the fundamentals of the currencies you trade. For example, in September 2022, the pound fell to a record low against the US Dollar. It resulted from the news that the UK government would reduce taxes, which would be offset by borrowing billions of pounds.

      How to Use an Economic Calendar

      1. Choose a Reliable Economic Calendar: Ensure the calendar provides accurate and timely information, with customisable settings based on your time zone and preferred currencies.
      2. Review the Calendar Regularly: Review your calendar daily so you can anticipate potential market volatility.
      3. Identify High-Impact Events: Good economic calendars will use colour-coding to identify the impact of data releases, i.e. yellow, orange, and red bars indicating low, medium, and high impact.  For instance, an interest rate announcement by the Bank of England will be colour-coded in red, because it will have a significant impact on the price of the GBP/USD.
      4. Evaluate the Importance of Each Event: Assess the event’s potential impact on the respective currency pairs, considering historical data and market expectations. For example, retail sales will impact the GBP/USD less than increasing unemployment in the UK.
      5. Inform your Trading Strategy: Use the economic calendar to plan your trades and align them with significant upcoming events.
      6. Monitor Consensus Forecasts: Be aware of the consensus on certain events and be prepared to adjust your positions once the news announcement has been released. When the consensus is vastly different from the actual figures, there may be a lot of volatility in the markets.
      7. Create a Risk Management Strategy: You should adjust your risk management strategy in anticipation of high-impact events. For example, set appropriate stop-losses and take-profits, manage your position size, and do not over-leverage your trades. 
      8. Integrate Technical Analysis: You should consider both the news event’s impact and technical indicators to make well-informed trading decisions.

      Remember that an economic calendar is just one tool among many in your trading arsenal. It provides valuable information but must be complemented with proper analysis, risk management strategies, and other relevant market data to make well-informed decisions.

      The bottom line is that you need to know the type of trader you are, and once you have figured that out, you will see how an economic calendar fits into your strategy.