To trade forex, it’s imperative to know what moves markets. News events, economic releases, and central bank announcements can all see a currency turn around and move in another  direction. Technical indicators, too, can signal just when a market has hit a high and is on the way down.

Has the central bank stopped raising rates?

Usually, a currency will appreciate when it’s central bank is raising interest rates. Higher interest rates translate to higher yields and that attracts more demand for the currency. Likewise, currencies fall in value when the central bank cuts interest rates. Therefore, if you are sure that the central bank has stopped raising rates, the currency will most likely have peaked and will be about to turn down.

Did the currency go up less than expected on a news release?

Let’s say that a wildly bullish news release comes out causing the forex pair in question to move  higher. Perhaps GDP came in 2% higher than expectations, or maybe unemployment dropped  sharply.

Track the currency and see how it responds to the good news. If it can only manage a small 20 or 30 pip gain, then the chances are the currency has peaked. How a currency reacts to news releases is an important method traders use to gauge the strength of a currency.

Has the RSI hit 80?

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a popular tool among traders, particularly swing traders as it reveals tops and bottoms of a market with great accuracy. Normally, a market that moves past 70 is overbought and one that is below 30 is oversold. So, if a currency moves beyond 80, it is significantly oversold and there’s a high probability that it’s near a peak.

Have moving averages crossed over?

Moving averages are a good way of objectively analysing the average price direction of a
market and crossovers usually signify important turning points. If a currency’s fast moving
average crosses under it’s slower moving average, it signals that a new downtrend has started and this gives a strong indication that the market may have peaked.

Are we near the top Bollinger Band?

Bollinger Bands use the standard deviation to show volatility and can indicate when a currency is oversold or overbought, according to it’s recent mean.

If the currency pair trades near the top Bollinger Band, it’s likely that the currency will be near a peak. Usually, it will hit the top band then start to move back towards the middle area and sometimes down to the bottom band. This is particularly true for short term durations but always remember, on longer timeframes a breakout may be taking place leading to a new trend.



Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD looks sidelined around 1.1850

EUR/USD looks sidelined around 1.1850

EUR/USD remains on the back foot, extending its bearish tone and sliding towards the 1.1850 area to print fresh daily lows on Monday. The move lower comes as the US Dollar gathers modest traction, with thin liquidity and subdued volatility amplifying price swings amid the US market holiday.

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD has quickly given back Friday’s solid gains, turning lower at the start of the week and drifting back towards the 1.3630 area. The focus now shifts squarely to Tuesday’s UK labour market report, which is likely to keep the quid firmly in the spotlight and could set the tone for Cable’s next move.

USD/JPY advances on weak Japanese GDP, holiday-thinned trading

USD/JPY advances on weak Japanese GDP, holiday-thinned trading

USD/JPY rises while US and Japanese markets remain closed for holidays. Weak Japanese Gross Domestic Product figures curb tightening expectations. Investors await speeches from Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision.


Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD looks sidelined around 1.1850

EUR/USD looks sidelined around 1.1850

EUR/USD remains on the back foot, extending its bearish tone and sliding towards the 1.1850 area to print fresh daily lows on Monday. The move lower comes as the US Dollar gathers modest traction, with thin liquidity and subdued volatility amplifying price swings amid the US market holiday.

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD flirts with daily lows near 1.3630

GBP/USD has quickly given back Friday’s solid gains, turning lower at the start of the week and drifting back towards the 1.3630 area. The focus now shifts squarely to Tuesday’s UK labour market report, which is likely to keep the quid firmly in the spotlight and could set the tone for Cable’s next move.

Gold loses momentum, eases below $5,000

Gold loses momentum, eases below $5,000

Gold is giving back part of Friday’s sharp rebound, deflating below the key $5,000 mark per troy ounce as the new week gets underway. Modest gains in the US Dollar are keeping the metal in check, while thin trading conditions, due to the Presidents Day holiday in the US, are adding to the choppy and hesitant tone across markets.

Bitcoin consolidates as on-chain data show mixed signals

Bitcoin consolidates as on-chain data show mixed signals

Bitcoin price has consolidated between $65,700 and $72,000 over the past nine days, with no clear directional bias. US-listed spot ETFs recorded a $359.91 million weekly outflow, marking the fourth consecutive week of withdrawals.

The week ahead: Key inflation readings and why the AI trade could be overdone

The week ahead: Key inflation readings and why the AI trade could be overdone

It is likely to be a quiet start to the week, with US markets closed on Monday for Presidents Day. European markets are higher across the board and gold is clinging to the $5,000 level after the tamer than expected CPI report in the US reduced haven flows to precious metals.

RECOMMENDED LESSONS

5 Forex News Events You Need To Know

In the fast moving world of currency markets where huge moves can seemingly come from nowhere, it is extremely important for new traders to learn about the various economic indicators and forex news events and releases that shape the markets. Indeed, quickly getting a handle on which data to look out for, what it means, and how to trade it can see new traders quickly become far more profitable and sets up the road to long term success.

Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know

Chart patterns are one of the most effective trading tools for a trader. They are pure price-action, and form on the basis of underlying buying and selling pressure. Chart patterns have a proven track-record, and traders use them to identify continuation or reversal signals, to open positions and identify price targets.

7 Ways to Avoid Forex Scams

The forex industry is recently seeing more and more scams. Here are 7 ways to avoid losing your money in such scams: Forex scams are becoming frequent. Michael Greenberg reports on luxurious expenses, including a submarine bought from the money taken from forex traders. Here’s another report of a forex fraud. So, how can we avoid falling in such forex scams?

What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make

Trading is exciting. Trading is hard. Trading is extremely hard. Some say that it takes more than 10,000 hours to master. Others believe that trading is the way to quick riches. They might be both wrong. What is important to know that no matter how experienced you are, mistakes will be part of the trading process.

Strategy

Money Management

Psychology

Best Brokers of 2025