Tools & Platforms

Using an Economic Calendar Effectively

The economic calendar lists scheduled news events — knowing what is coming prevents being caught off guard.

Key rules

  1. Review the economic calendar every Monday for the week ahead
  2. Red/high-impact events have the most potential for sharp moves
  3. Decide your approach to each event before it occurs
  4. Reduce position size or close before unplanned events
  5. The post-news trend direction often continues for hours or days

An economic calendar lists all scheduled economic announcements (CPI, NFP, FOMC, GDP, earnings) with their expected and prior values. High-impact events are marked in red.

Review the weekly calendar every Monday. Mark session times of high-impact events. Decide in advance whether you will reduce exposure, close positions, or look for post-event continuation setups.

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