The value of a country’s currency is affected and largely influenced by various economic indicators that reflect how a country is performing. The macroeconomic events that take place internally and internationally are factors that will have a huge effect on the value of a currency.
As a forex trader you need to be constantly on top of these data – always ready to read and interpret reports as it is released. You should be able to do this quickly as well because the market immediately reacts to these economic indicators. I know of some forex traders who are on a long position but were caught flat-footed when negative economic data was released that resulted in the currency they were trading in to fall in value. Believe me, it’s not a good position to be in.
One of the most common questions asked by budding traders is what economic data to look out for. The question is understandable since there is a mountain of data that is released on a regular basis. But among forex traders the following indicators and reports are what they often follow. These are the ones that have a strong effect on currency value movements.
Employment data
Employment data is a strong economic indicator because it shows the level of unemployment in a country. As we all know a high unemployment rate can create a bigger strain on a country’s economy. Among the employment related data you need to follow are: Unemployment Rate, Unemployment Claims, Employment Change, Non-Farm Employment Change.
Economic data
The Trade Balance and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the major economies and currency leaders are quite important and immediately have an impact on the value of a currency the moment it is released.
Other economic data that you should also monitor are those that are closely linked to indicating inflation, e.g., the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI).
Central Bank and Policy Makers
The biggest influencers of market movements are, of course, the announcements and policies made by a country’s central bank and the important monetary authorities. The most important data indicators are the interest rate announcements and monetary policy statements released by the country central banks, for example, the European Central Bank (ECB), Federal Reserve (Fed), and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).
With so many economic data you need to be on top of, it can get confusing if you try to get information from different sources. The best option would be to visit sites dedicated to forex trading strategy. Most of these sites aggregate all of the relevant articles, policy statements and data that have an effect on the forex market. Aside from being a one-stop shop for forex information, most of these sites also feature data analysis and present you with good explanations as to why a recently released set of economic data will be good or bad for certain currencies.
Your favorite forex trading platform will often have its own news and analysis section as well. This is also a good source of information, and it’s also more convenient because you won’t need to visit different sites. It’s all there in one site.
As a forex trader you need to be constantly on top of these data – always ready to read and interpret reports as it is released. You should be able to do this quickly as well because the market immediately reacts to these economic indicators. I know of some forex traders who are on a long position but were caught flat-footed when negative economic data was released that resulted in the currency they were trading in to fall in value. Believe me, it’s not a good position to be in.
One of the most common questions asked by budding traders is what economic data to look out for. The question is understandable since there is a mountain of data that is released on a regular basis. But among forex traders the following indicators and reports are what they often follow. These are the ones that have a strong effect on currency value movements.
Employment data
Employment data is a strong economic indicator because it shows the level of unemployment in a country. As we all know a high unemployment rate can create a bigger strain on a country’s economy. Among the employment related data you need to follow are: Unemployment Rate, Unemployment Claims, Employment Change, Non-Farm Employment Change.
Economic data
The Trade Balance and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the major economies and currency leaders are quite important and immediately have an impact on the value of a currency the moment it is released.
Other economic data that you should also monitor are those that are closely linked to indicating inflation, e.g., the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI).
Central Bank and Policy Makers
The biggest influencers of market movements are, of course, the announcements and policies made by a country’s central bank and the important monetary authorities. The most important data indicators are the interest rate announcements and monetary policy statements released by the country central banks, for example, the European Central Bank (ECB), Federal Reserve (Fed), and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).
With so many economic data you need to be on top of, it can get confusing if you try to get information from different sources. The best option would be to visit sites dedicated to forex trading strategy. Most of these sites aggregate all of the relevant articles, policy statements and data that have an effect on the forex market. Aside from being a one-stop shop for forex information, most of these sites also feature data analysis and present you with good explanations as to why a recently released set of economic data will be good or bad for certain currencies.
Your favorite forex trading platform will often have its own news and analysis section as well. This is also a good source of information, and it’s also more convenient because you won’t need to visit different sites. It’s all there in one site.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD trades around 1.1700 after rebounding from 50-day EMA
EUR/USD gains ground after three days of losses, trading around 1.1700 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. On the daily chart, technical analysis indicates a potential for a bearish bias; the 14-day Relative Strength Index at 47 confirms waning momentum.
GBP/USD climbs above 1.3500 as US Dollar weakens ahead of ISM Services PMI
GBP/USD gains some ground after registering modest gains in the previous session, trading around 1.3510 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair edges higher as the US Dollar struggles ahead of the US ISM Services Purchasing Managers’ Index and JOLTs job openings due later in the day.
USD/JPY turns lower to near 156.50 on fresh USD supply
USD/JPY has stalled its renewed upside near 156.80 in the Asian session on Wednesday, falling to test 156.50. The renewed US Dollar selling remains a drag on the pair even as a cautious market mood keeps the haven demand for the Japanese Yen somewhat underpinned. All eyes are on the key US data releases.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD trades around 1.1700 after rebounding from 50-day EMA
EUR/USD gains ground after three days of losses, trading around 1.1700 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. On the daily chart, technical analysis indicates a potential for a bearish bias; the 14-day Relative Strength Index at 47 confirms waning momentum.
GBP/USD climbs above 1.3500 as US Dollar weakens ahead of ISM Services PMI
GBP/USD gains some ground after registering modest gains in the previous session, trading around 1.3510 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair edges higher as the US Dollar struggles ahead of the US ISM Services Purchasing Managers’ Index and JOLTs job openings due later in the day.
Gold pulls back from $4,500 amid profit-taking ahead of key US macro data
Gold struggles to capitalize on its strong weekly gains registered over the past two days and faces rejection near the $4,500 psychological mark, or over a one-week high touched during the Asian session on Wednesday. As investors digest the recent US attack on Venezuela, the prevalent risk-on environment prompts some profit-taking around the commodity.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple cool off as rally stalls near key resistance zones
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple prices are taking a breather on Wednesday near their key resistance levels following the recent surge. BTC faces rejection at the $94,253 level, while ETH and XRP follow BTC’s footsteps, struggling near $3,308 and $2.35, respectively.
Implications of US intervention in Venezuela
Events in Venezuela are top of mind for market participants, and while developments are associated with an elevated degree of uncertainty, we are not making any changes to our markets or economic forecasts as a result of the deposition of Nicolás Maduro.
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