FXStreet Expert Contributor
FXStreet
Each month in Munich, the IFO Institute for Economic Research releases the IFO business climate survey. This is one of the most important economic figures for many Forex traders. The IFO Report is a figure that measures the results of 7,000 questionnaires completed by major German companies. The report measures the sentiment of the current and near future business climates. German companies have three options for responses when filling out the current business climate section of this survey; Good, Satisfactory, and Poor. For the near term climate questionnaire the firms have the following three options; Most Favorable, Unchanged, and More Unfavorable.
Basic Categories of the IFO Report:
Manufacturing
Construction
Whole sale
Retail sale
Understanding the Statistic:
The baseline of the IFO report is 100 points, and each month the number can fluctuate by 100 points above or below this baseline figure.
- An IFO report reading of 100 shows that the business climate has remained neutral.
- An IFO report reading above 100 means that the business climate has become healthier. The higher the number, the healthier the business climate.
- A strong economy might lead to inflationary pressure, which will in turn cause the ECB to tighten the interest rate. In this scenario, a tighter interest rate will lead to an appreciation of the Euro.
- An IFO report reading that falls below 100 signifies an unfavorable business climate which could lead to an economic slowdown or recession. To keep away from a recession, the ECB may decide to cut interest rates, which will in turn lead to a depreciating Euro.
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GBP/USD gains ground above 1.3300, eyes on Fed outcome
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Japanese Yen bulls seem hesitant as fiscal concerns offset BoJ rate hike bets, ahead of Fed
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Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD retakes 1.1650 ahead of Fed rate decision
EUR/USD grinds higher to re-attempt the 1.1650 level in the European session on Wednesday. Markets turn cautious and dump the US Dollar ahead of the US Federal Reserve interest rate decision later on Wednesday, where a 25 bps rate cut is almost fully priced in. Meanwhile, cautious ECB-speak underpins the Euro.
GBP/USD gains ground above 1.3300, eyes on Fed outcome
GBP/USD trades on a firmer note above 1.3300 European session. The Greenback edges lower against the Pound Sterling as the US Federal Reserve is widely expected to announce another interest rate cut on Wednesday. Next of note will be the UK monthly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report that will be published on Friday.
Gold bulls remain on the sidelines despite weaker USD; looks to Fed for fresh impetus
Gold extends its sideways consolidative price move through the early European session and trades just below the weekly high touched earlier this Wednesday. Traders now seem reluctant and opt to wait for the outcome of a two-day FOMC policy meeting later today. The key focus will be on updated economic projections and Powell's speech
Solana price flashes bullish potential on institutional, retail confidence
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Global economic outlook 2026: Financial system risk, trade, public debt
The global and European economies have been resilient in recent years even accounting for the modest global slowdown of 2025. But risks for the recovery are rising, underscoring a negative medium-run global macro and credit outlook.
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