-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 07, 2024
00:30
JPY
Jibun Bank Services PMI Final
{previous}
54.1
{forecast}
54.6
{actual}
The au Jibun Bank Japan 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.
00:30
JPY
Jibun Bank Composite PMI Final
{previous}
51.7
{forecast}
{actual}
The au Jibun Bank Japan Composite PMI 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 based on data collected from a representative panel of around 800 companies. The index tracks variables such as sales, new orders, employment, inventories and prices. 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.
01:30
AUD
Retail Sales MoM Final
{previous}
0.2%
{forecast}
-0.2%
{actual}
In Australia, the Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period. In Australia, Retail sales are seasonal, volatile and relatively important to the overall economy.
04:30
AUD
RBA Interest Rate Decision
{previous}
4.35%
{forecast}
4.35%
{actual}
In Australia, interest rates decisions are taken by the Reserve Bank of Australia's Board. The official interest rate is the cash rate. The cash rate is the rate charged on overnight loans between financial intermediaries, is determined in the money market as a result of the interaction of demand for and supply of overnight funds.
05:00
SGD
MAS 12-Week Bill Auction
{previous}
3.91%
{forecast}
{actual}
05:00
SGD
MAS 4-Week Bill Auction
{previous}
3.9%
{forecast}
{actual}
05:30
AUD
RBA Press Conference
{previous}
{forecast}
{actual}
In Australia, interest rates decisions are taken by the Reserve Bank of Australia's Board. The official interest rate is the cash rate. The cash rate is the rate charged on overnight loans between financial intermediaries, is determined in the money market as a result of the interaction of demand for and supply of overnight funds.
05:45
CHF
Unemployment Rate
{previous}
2.4%
{forecast}
{actual}
In Switzerland, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
06:00
EUR
Imports MoM
{previous}
3.2%
{forecast}
-1%
{actual}
In 2021, Germany main imports were: computer, electronic and optical products (11 percent of total imports); motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (10 percent); chemicals and chemical products (8 percent); machinery and equipment (8 percent); electrical equipment (7 percent); basic metals (6 percent); crude petroleum and natural gas (6 percent); basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (6 percent); and food products (4 percent). Main import partners were China (12 percent of total imports), the Netherlands (9 percent), the US and Poland (6 percent each), Italy and France (5 percent each), Belgium, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Austria (4 percent each).
06:00
EUR
Exports MoM
{previous}
-2%
{forecast}
0.4%
{actual}
Germany is the third largest exporter in the world, with exports accounting for almost an half of its economic output. In 2021, Germany main exports were: motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (15 percent of total exports); machinery and equipment (14 percent); chemicals and chemical products (10 percent); computer, electronic and optical products (9 percent); basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (7 percent); electrical equipment (7 percent); basic metals (5 percent); food products (4 percent); rubber and plastic products (4 percent); fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (3 percent) and other transport equipment (3 percent). Main export partners were: the US (9 percent of the total exports), China (8 percent), France and the Netherlands (7 percent each), Poland (6 percent), Italy, Austria and the United Kingdom (5 percent each), Switzerland and Belgium (4 percent each), Czech Republic and Spain (3 percent each).
06:00
GBP
Halifax House Price Index YoY
{previous}
0.3%
{forecast}
{actual}
The Halifax House Price Index is the UK's longest running monthly house price series with data covering the whole country going back to January 1983. From this data, a "standardized" house price is calculated and property price movements on a like -for-like basis (including seasonal adjustments) are analyzed over time.
06:00
EUR
Factory Orders MoM
{previous}
0.2%
{forecast}
0.5%
{actual}
Factory Orders in Germany are reported using monthly changes in the volume of new orders received by manufacturers. Factory Order figures in Germany can be very volatile and misleading because they are heavily affected by geopolitical events, temporary shocks in demand and business deals which may only happen once.
06:00
GBP
Halifax House Price Index MoM
{previous}
-1%
{forecast}
0.2%
{actual}
The Halifax House Price Index is the UK's longest running monthly house price series with data covering the whole country going back to January 1983. From this data, a "standardized" house price is calculated and property price movements on a like -for-like basis (including seasonal adjustments) are analyzed over time.
06:00
EUR
Balance of Trade
{previous}
€21.4B
{forecast}
€22.4B
{actual}
Germany runs regular trade surpluses since 1952, primarily due to strong exports of vehicles and other machinery. In 2021, the largest trade surpluses were recorded with the US, France, the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Poland and Spain; while the biggest trade deficits were recorded with China, Ireland, Norway, Vietnam, Russia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia and South Africa.
06:45
EUR
Foreign Exchange Reserves
{previous}
€238.9B
{forecast}
{actual}
In France, the international reserves include external assets that are directly and effectively controlled by the Banque de France, readily available, denominated in foreign currency and meeting the criterion of residency. Only claims on nonresident of the Euro-area are considered as reserve assets. The international reserve assets are recorded on the basis of gross reserve asset concept.
06:45
EUR
Private Non Farm Payrolls QoQ Prel
{previous}
-0.1%
{forecast}
0%
{actual}
In France, Payroll Employment in the Private Sector refers to the number of persons, regardless of work duration, in employment on the last day of the quarter. Employment estimates are in all sectors. Until the third quarter of 2010, data refers only to mainland France. From the fourth quarter of 2010 onwards, employment estimates cover all France (excluding Mayotte).
06:45
EUR
Balance of Trade
{previous}
€-5.2B
{forecast}
€-5B
{actual}
Since 2004, France has been recording trade deficits due the gradual erosion of the export-oriented industry, the appreciation of the euro and the increasing dependency on imports of energy and manufactured products. The biggest trade deficits were recorded with: China, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium; while the biggest trade surpluses were recorded with: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Switzerland.
06:45
EUR
Current Account
{previous}
€0.9B
{forecast}
{actual}
Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).
06:45
EUR
Exports
{previous}
€51.1B
{forecast}
{actual}
France exports mainly transport equipment (23 percent of total exports), of which aeronautics (12 percent) and automobile industry (10 percent). The country also exports mechanical equipment, electronic and computer equipment (19 percent); chemicals, perfumes, cosmetics (12 percent); agro-food industry products (10 percent); metallurgical and metal products (7 percent); pharmaceuticals (6 percent); textiles, leather (5 percent); rubber and plastic products, miscellaneous mineral products (4 percent); jewelry, toys, furniture (3 percent); and agricultural, forestry, fishery and aquaculture products (3 percent). Main export partners are: Germany (15 percent of total exports), Spain and Italy (8 percent each), the UK, the US and Belgium (7 percent each), China and the Netherlands (4 percent each).
06:45
EUR
Imports
{previous}
€56.296B
{forecast}
{actual}
France imports mainly mechanical equipment, electronic and computer equipment (21 percent of total imports); transport equipment (19 percent), of which aeronautics (11 percent) and automobile industry (7 percent); chemicals, perfumes, cosmetics (8 percent); agro-food industry products (8 percent); metallurgical and metal products (7 percent); natural hydrocarbons, other mining products, electricity (7 percent); textiles, leather (7 percent); jewelry, toys, furniture (5 percent); pharmaceuticals (5 percent); and rubber and plastic products, miscellaneous mineral products (5 percent). Main import partners are: Germany (16 percent of total imports), China (9 percent), Italy (8 percent), Belgium (7 percent), the US and Spain (6 percent each), the UK and the Netherlands (5 percent each).
