What the calendar shows
An economic calendar lists scheduled data releases and central-bank decisions with a time, an impact rating, the forecast and the previous figure. When the actual number comes out very different from the forecast, prices can move sharply. Our live calendar shows the times in your local time.
Step by step
- Check the week ahead every Monday. Note the high-impact events for the currencies you trade.
- Focus on the big ones: US jobs reports, inflation (CPI) figures and interest-rate decisions — for the US Federal Reserve, ECB and Bank of England, and for African pairs the South African Reserve Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria and Central Bank of Kenya.
- Convert the time. Calendars may show UTC or New York time; check against SAST, WAT or EAT.
- Decide your plan in advance: close or reduce positions before the release, move to the sidelines, or trade it deliberately with a small size.
- Expect wider spreads and slippage in the minutes around a release.
- If you trade a prop firm account, check its news rules — many restrict trading around high-impact events.
Tip: "Forecast" is the market's expectation. The move comes from the surprise — the gap between actual and forecast — not the number itself.
FAQ
Which events matter for USD/ZAR?
US data and Fed decisions, South African inflation and SARB rate decisions, and global risk sentiment.
Should beginners trade the news?
It's usually better to stay out until you understand how fast prices and spreads can move.
Why did my stop loss fill at a worse price?
During fast moves there may be no price at your stop level, so it fills at the next available price — that's slippage.
This guide is general information, not financial advice.