The Big Names
- Non-Farm Payrolls (US)
- CPI / PPI inflation prints
- Interest rate decisions (FOMC, ECB, BoE, BoJ)
- GDP releases
- PMI surveys
Why They Move Markets
Because they update market expectations. If actual data beats forecast, positioning was wrong; unwinding drives price sharply in the new direction.
Three Approaches
1. **Trade before**: build a directional bias in the days before 2. **Trade after**: wait 10–30 minutes for volatility to normalise, then join the direction 3. **Do not trade**: many professionals simply flatten positions ahead of top-tier releases
Managing Risk
- Reduce size before high-impact news
- Consider guaranteed stops if available
- Expect gaps and slippage
Key Takeaways
- News is a catalyst — it accelerates or reverses trends.
- Reactions can be violent and asymmetric.
- Choose a clear approach and stick to it.