How to Use an Economic Calendar
What is an Economic Calendar?
An economic calendar displays key economic indicators such as GDP, employment data, inflation reports, and central bank decisions. Each event has a date, time, previous value, forecast, and actual value. For Liechtenstein traders, the most important events are US-based because you trade USD pairs. For example, the Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report can cause significant volatility in EUR/USD or GBP/USD.
How to Read the Calendar
Each event is color-coded by impact level: red for high impact, orange for medium, and yellow for low. Liechtenstein traders should focus on red events like FOMC rate decisions, US CPI, and NFP. The 'Previous' column shows the last release, 'Forecast' shows market expectation, and 'Actual' is the real data. A large deviation from forecast often leads to sharp price moves.
Step-by-Step Usage
First, set the time zone to UTC+1 (CET) for Liechtenstein. Second, filter events by impact level (high). Third, note the currency affected—most events impact USD. Fourth, before the release, check the forecast vs previous. If the actual number beats the forecast significantly, expect a strong USD move. For example, if US CPI comes in higher than expected, USD typically strengthens, and you can plan a short EUR/USD trade.
Integrating with Your Broker
After identifying a high-impact event, fund your account via Bank Transfer, Skrill, or USDT. Use the calendar to set pending orders like buy stops or sell stops just above or below key levels. This way, you capture the breakout without emotional decision-making. Always check that your broker supports the trade size and leverage compliant with local financial authority rules.