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What is the economic calendar?
Economic calendar, also known as Forex economic calendar or FX Calendar, is a tool that allows traders to make the fundamental analysis of financial markets based on economic news. That is – you will be able to see macroeconomic events that move the market and make Forex trading decisions based on the data.
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What data is included in the economic calendar?
The economic calendar includes information about major economic events, as well as political news and the impact they have on the Forex market. All these financial events are used as economic indicators.
The economic events calendar also shows the time and date of when the indicator data was released, the currency that they are expected to affect, and each indicator's impact level. Most indicators have numerical values, which may be expressed as a percentage or as a currency value. They reflect the impact the particular indicator had or is going to have, either positive or negative.
Our forex economic calendar has three columns to show the value of economic indicators: Previous, Forecast, and Actual:
- Previous shows the value the indicator had in the previous period (usually, one month or one year);
- Forecast shows the estimated value of the indicator based on a survey of 20-240 economists;
- Actual is the value published by an official source like a national statistics agency or an analytical center.
We also provide additional information about the specific indicators and the graphs showing changes in value by month or year – click the indicator you're interested in to learn more.
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How to read the economic calendar?
Sometimes the number of current economic events can be overwhelming. So, first of all, make sure to use filters to see the most relevant indicators for your Forex trading. For example, you can choose currencies that you are planning on trading or the indicator impact.
At the top of our Forex trading calendar, choose the most convenient time zone.
Use numeric values of the indicators to navigate market changes. This is why forecasts and actual release figures are essential. Compare the numbers: if the Actual value is bigger than the forecast, this is good for the currency and it is likely to go up in price; if the Actual value is lower than the Forecast, it is likely to drop.
You can apply similar logic to the Previous and Forecast values before the actual data is released, but be careful – forecasts are always preliminary and actual figures might be drastically different.
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What economic indicators are there?
Economic indicators are major economic events that are used to interpret investment opportunities in Forex trading. They usually are macroeconomic events that affect currencies and stock prices.
The indicators can be leading (predict upcoming changes), coincident (show the current economic state of the particular area) and lagging (confirm patterns and trends).
Top economic indicators:
- The US Treasury Yield Curve – shows the ratio between short-term Treasury bills and long-term Treasury bonds. This indicator successfully predicted eight major recessions of the past years.
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – one of the most critical metrics of the economy's health. It is a lagging indicator, so it shows what has already happened, but can be a great marker of an upcoming recession.
- Unemployment Rate – this is a percentage of people seeking jobs and will indicate how healthy the labor force and, thus, the economy really is.
- Interest Rates – another lagging indicator that shows economic growth. It can affect GDP and inflation, so be aware of this one.
These are some of the few important indicators. Make sure to follow our daily trading plans from FBS analysts to learn more about the current trading news events and how they will affect your Forex trading.
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How to trade the news?
The financial events are typically scheduled ahead of time. There are usually predictions ahead of the release (Forecast column in our Forex news calendar) of how it will affect the market. Some traders choose to open positions depending on their expectations of economic indicator reports: if they expect a particular indicator to move the currency up, they buy it and vice versa. Other traders dislike rapid price movements that may happen when indicators are released, so they steer clear of using the FX calendar and trading the news.
There are many news trading strategies: you have to use the one you find best suited for your trading style. FBS, apart from providing all the necessary services for trading, also have all the vital information for any trader's needs. Check out our news section to be aware of possible market movements.
Even if you are not one to trade the news, you should still check the trading economic calendar or read about current economic events regularly because they are likely to affect market volatility.
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Is the economic calendar updated in real-time?
Our major economic events calendar is updated automatically as the reports come out. FBS is there to offer timely updates to the economic calendar, but we cannot be held accountable for any delays due to the immoderate flow of trading news events.
Economic Calendar
List of important economic releases
Time
Impact
Currency
Event
Previous
Forecast
Actual
May 06, 2024
00:00
JPY
Children’s Day (Substitute Holiday)
{previous}
{forecast}
{actual}
00:00
GBP
May Day Bank Holiday
{previous}
{forecast}
{actual}
00:00
GBP
Early May Bank Holiday
{previous}
{forecast}
{actual}
00:30
SGD
S&P Global PMI
{previous}
55.7
{forecast}
{actual}
The S&P Global Singapore Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI™) is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to executives in over 400 private sector companies including manufacturing, services, construction and retail. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month based on data collected mid-month. An index reading above 50 indicates an overall increase in private sector activity, below 50 an overall decrease.
01:00
AUD
TD-MI Inflation Gauge MoM
{previous}
0.1%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Australia, the Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge estimates month-to-month price movements for a wide range of goods and services across the capital cities of Australia. It aims to provide financial markets and policy-makers with regular updates on trends in inflation. The report is based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ methodology for calculating the quarterly consumer price index.
01:30
AUD
ANZ-Indeed Job Ads MoM
{previous}
-1%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Australia, job advertisements measure the number of jobs advertised in the major daily newspapers and internet sites covering the capital cities.
01:45
CNY
Caixin Services PMI
{previous}
52.7
{forecast}
52.5
{actual}
The Caixin China General Services PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to purchasing executives in over 400 private service sector companies. The index tracks variables such as sales, employment, inventories and prices. A reading above 50 indicates that the services sector is generally expanding; below 50 indicates that it is generally declining.
01:45
CNY
Caixin Composite PMI
{previous}
52.7
{forecast}
{actual}
In China, the Caixin China Composite Output Index tracks business trends across private sector activity, based on data collected from a representative panel of around 400 companies. The index tracks variables such as sales, new orders, employment, inventories and prices. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in business activity and below 50 indicates that it is generally declining.
06:00
RUB
S&P Global Services PMI
{previous}
51.4
{forecast}
{actual}
The Markit Russia Services PMI is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to purchasing executives in over 300 private service sector companies. The Index tracks variables such as sales, employment, inventories and prices. An index reading above 50 indicates an overall increase in that variable, below 50 an overall decrease.
06:00
RUB
S&P Global Composite PMI
{previous}
52.7
{forecast}
{actual}
In Russia, the Markit Russia Composite Output Index tracks business trends across private sector activity, based on data collected from a representative panel of around 300 companies. The index tracks variables such as sales, new orders, employment, inventories and prices. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in business activity and below 50 indicates that it is generally declining.
07:15
ZAR
S&P Global PMI
{previous}
48.4
{forecast}
{actual}
In South Africa, the IHS Markit South Africa Purchasing Managers Index tracks business trends across private sector activity, including mining, manufacturing, services, construction and retail based on data collected from a representative panel of around 400 companies. The index tracks variables such as new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times, inventories and prices. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in business activity and below 50 indicates that it is generally declining.
07:50
EUR
HCOB Services PMI Final
{previous}
48.3
{forecast}
50.5
{actual}
The HCOB France Services PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of around 400 service sector companies. The sectors covered include consumer (excluding retail), transport, information, communication, finance, insurance, real estate and business services. The headline figure is the Services Business Activity Index. This is a diffusion index calculated from a question that asks for changes in the volume of business activity compared with one month previously. The Services Business Activity Index is comparable to the Manufacturing Output Index. The index varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease.
07:50
EUR
HCOB Composite PMI Final
{previous}
48.3
{forecast}
49.9
{actual}
The HCOB France Composite Output Index, which is a weighted average of the Manufacturing Output Index and the Services Business Activity Index, tracks business trends across private sector activity. The index tracks variables such as sales, new orders, employment, inventories and prices; and varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease.
07:55
EUR
HCOB Services PMI Final
{previous}
50.1
{forecast}
53.3
{actual}
The HCOB Germany Services PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of around 400 service sector companies. The sectors covered include consumer (excluding retail), transport, information, communication, finance, insurance, real estate and business services. The headline figure is the Services Business Activity Index. This is a diffusion index calculated from a question that asks for changes in the volume of business activity compared with one month previously. The Services Business Activity Index is comparable to the Manufacturing Output Index. The index varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease.
07:55
EUR
HCOB Composite PMI Final
{previous}
47.7
{forecast}
50.5
{actual}
The HCOB Germany Composite Output Index, which is a weighted average of the Manufacturing Output Index and the Services Business Activity Index, tracks business trends across private sector activity. The index tracks variables such as sales, new orders, employment, inventories and prices; and varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease.
08:00
EUR
HCOB Composite PMI Final
{previous}
50.3
{forecast}
51.4
{actual}
The HCOB Eurozone Composite Output Index, which is a weighted average of the Manufacturing Output Index and the Services Business Activity Index, is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to survey panels of manufacturers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland and Greece, and of service providers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Ireland, totaling around 5,000 private sector companies. The index tracks variables such as sales, new orders, employment, inventories and prices; and varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease.
08:00
EUR
HCOB Services PMI Final
{previous}
51.5
{forecast}
52.9
{actual}
The HCOB Eurozone Services PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of service providers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Ireland. The sectors covered include consumer (excluding retail), transport, information, communication, finance, insurance, real estate and business services. The headline figure is the Services Business Activity Index. This is a diffusion index calculated from a question that asks for changes in the volume of business activity compared with one month previously. The Services Business Activity Index is comparable to the Manufacturing Output Index. The index varies between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 indicating an overall increase compared to the previous month, and below 50 an overall decrease.
09:00
EUR
PPI YoY
{previous}
-8.3%
{forecast}
{actual}
In the Euro Area, producer prices change measures the average change in price of goods and services sold by manufacturers and producers in the wholesale market during a given period.
09:00
EUR
New Car Registrations YoY
{previous}
-6.2%
{forecast}
{actual}
09:00
EUR
PPI MoM
{previous}
-1%
{forecast}
-0.7%
{actual}
In the Euro Area, producer prices change measures the average change in price of goods and services sold by manufacturers and producers in the wholesale market during a given period.
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