Economic Calendar
Trading during economic news events can be dangerous due to the higher volatility they bring. As good risk management practice, please do not trade the assets below later than two minutes before the news event and earlier than two minutes after. For further information on trading restrictions, please read the Terms and Conditions, particularly section 10.
NFP
Event name: Nonfarm Payroll
Explanation: The Nonfarm Payroll (NFP) report, a key U.S. economic indicator, depicts the number of paid employees, excluding those in farms, federal government, private households, and nonprofits. This report significantly influences the foreign exchange (forex) market, leading to substantial rate fluctuations and drawing attention from a broad spectrum of market participants. The NFP shows the monthly variations in U.S. employment figures.
Retail Sales
Explanation: The U.S. Retail Sales report, compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, collates sales data from a variety of retail businesses like department stores, gas stations, and online retailers (omitting the service sector, including restaurants and hotels). The information is gathered through the Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS), involving approximately 13,000 retail businesses across several sectors nationwide. This survey focuses on sales, inventories, and other vital performance indicators, which the Census Bureau processes, analyses, and adjusts.
Occurrence: Around two weeks after the end of the reference month. Exact dates can be found here.
CPI
Occurrence: Around two weeks after the end of the reference month. Exact dates can be found here
PPI
Occurrence: Within two weeks after the end of the month. Exact dates can be found here
GDP
Event name: GDP q/q
Explanation: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) refers to the total value of goods and services produced within a country during a specified timeframe and is often used as an overall indicator of a nation’s economic health and size. This key economic statistic provides insight into whether the economy is growing by increasing output or contracting. Additionally, it enables comparisons of economic performance among different countries. Consequently, GDP shifts can significantly affect financial markets.
Occurrence: Quarterly, next release can be found here.
Core PCE
Event name: Core PCE Price Index m/m
Explanation: The Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index is an economic metric that gauges inflation by tracking price fluctuations in goods and services that U.S. consumers buy, excluding food and energy. The Federal Reserve scrutinizes this index as it aids in assessing the economy’s status and shaping monetary policy.
Occurrence: On the last business day of each month
ADP
Event name: ADP Non-Farm Employment Change
Explanation: The ADP National Employment Report offers an independent assessment of changes in U.S. nonfarm, private employment, sourced from the actual, anonymized payroll data of companies served by ADP. This free monthly report provides current data on total private employment, weekly jobs data, and wage insights from the previous month, thereby offering valuable insights into the U.S. labor market for businesses and governments.
Occurrence: First Wednesday of every month, at 8.15 am ET
ISM Manufacturing
Event name: ISM Manufacturing PMI and Flash Manufacturing PMI
Explanation: The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Survey is a monthly report that assesses the health of U.S. manufacturing through a survey of purchasing managers. ISM selects companies reflecting the industry and geographic distribution of U.S. manufacturers for these surveys. Respondents indicate whether conditions are “better, worse, or the same” or show an “increase, decrease, or no change”. If the index exceeds 50, the majority reported improvements or increases, whereas an index below 50 implies most respondents experienced worsening conditions or decreases.
Occurrence: First business day of each month at 10:00 am ET
ISM Services
Event name: ISM Services PMI and Flash Services PMI
Explanation: The Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), also known as the ISM Services report, derives from a nationwide survey of purchasing managers working in non-manufacturing industries in the U.S. Similar to the ISM Manufacturing Survey, this report assesses various business conditions within the services sector, including employment, production, new orders, prices, and inventories. The collected data help determine whether the industry expanded or contracted over the month.
Occurrence: Third business day of each month at 10:00 am ET
Crude Oil Inventories
Event name: Crude Oil Inventories (EIA)
Explanation: Crude oil inventories represent the volume of crude oil stored in a country’s commercial facilities, typically quantified in barrels. This key supply and demand indicator for oil can forecast future prices and inform energy policy decisions. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes a weekly Crude Oil Inventories report, documenting changes in U.S. crude oil reserves. The report includes data from the preceding week on crude oil production, imports, and refinery utilization rates.
Occurrence: Every Wednesday at 10:30 am ET. In case of a U.S. federal holiday on Monday, on Thursday at 11:00 am ET
Forbidden Assets: USOil, UKOil
Natural Gas Inventories
Event name: Natural Gas Inventories (EIA)
Explanation: The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Natural Gas Storage report quantifies the weekly change in the volume of natural gas stored underground, measured in cubic feet. An inventory increase exceeding expectations signifies weaker demand, leading to bearish trends for natural gas prices. Similarly, if the inventory increase falls short of expectations, it indicates higher demand, fostering bullish trends for natural gas prices.
Occurrence: Every Thursday at 10:30 am EST
Forbidden Assets: NGAS
Fed Interest Rate Decision
Event name: Fed Interest Rate Decision
Explanation: Regular meetings of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, decide economic policies, notably the interest rate charged on loans to commercial banks. An interest rate increase often strengthens the U.S. dollar as it signals rising inflation, while a rate decrease, suggesting economic challenges, tends to weaken the dollar. If rates stay the same, the focus shifts to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement’s tone and its implications for future inflation trends, categorized as either hawkish (signaling potential rate increases) or dovish (indicating possible rate decreases).
Occurrence: 8 times a year, the news is released at 2pm EST on the second day of the meeting. The dates can be found here.
Forbidden Assets: All
ECB Interest Rate Decision
Event name: ECB Interest Rate Decision
Country: EU
Explanation: The European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate decision refers to the rates at which the ECB offers short-term credit to commercial banks in the European Union. During significant economic announcements like this volatility increases, causing movements of as much as 100 points in the EUR/USD and 300 points in the DAX 40. The spreads, or differences between the buying and selling price, typically widen for forex and indexes during the ECB interest rate announcement. Furthermore, speculation intensifies, leading to an increase in trading volume and volatility in the days preceding the ECB’s rate decision.
Occurrence: The meeting dates are available here, look for “monetary policy meeting”, the news is released at 14:15 CET on those days.
Forbidden Assets: All EUR FX pairs
BOE Interest Rate Decision
Event name: BOE Interest Rate Decision
Country: UK
Explanation: The Bank of England (BoE) sets the UK’s monetary policy, including determining benchmark interest rates, via its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Changes to, or indications of future alterations in, the BoE’s rate targets can significantly influence the performance of all GBP currency pairs.
Occurrence: 8 Thursdays throughout the year, the news is released at 12.00 GMT. You can find the meeting dates here.
Forbidden Assets: All GBP FX pairs