News and fundamentals
Economic Calendar and Forex News
Read actual, forecast and previous values and connect releases with currencies, monetary policy and price reaction.
Answer first
What you should remember
- The surprise versus forecast matters more than the number alone.
- Impact depends on what the release means for interest rates.
- The first reaction is not always the lasting direction.
The three release values
Actual is the released value, forecast is market consensus and previous is the prior period, sometimes revised. Currencies react to deviations from what was priced, not to an isolated large or small number.
Mapping a release to a currency
Inflation, employment, growth and central-bank decisions shape rate expectations. Strong data is not automatically currency-positive if markets expected more or details are weak.
Before and after the release
Check timing, impact and open exposure before release. Afterwards compare actual with forecast and watch spread and response; avoid chasing a first candle that revisions or commentary may reverse.
Multiple releases at once
A strong headline can arrive with contradictory details or central-bank comments can overlap other data. In such cases price response often summarizes the information balance better than one number.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
Should I trade at the release?
Only with a tested plan that accounts for slippage and spread; avoiding releases is valid when the strategy is not built for them.
What are the most important forex releases?
Rate decisions, inflation, employment, growth and central-bank communication, with importance changing by market focus.