How to Use an Economic Calendar
What is an Economic Calendar?
An economic calendar lists scheduled economic releases, central bank meetings, and other events that influence currency prices. For Palau traders, the most important events are US-based because the USD is the national currency. Examples include the Consumer Price Index (CPI), GDP reports, and interest rate announcements from the Federal Reserve.
How to Read an Economic Calendar
Each entry shows the event name, date, time, previous value, forecast, and actual result. The 'impact' column (low, medium, high) tells you how much volatility to expect. For Palau traders, high-impact US events often occur between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM Eastern Time, which translates to 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM Palau time (UTC+9). Plan your trading sessions accordingly.
Step-by-Step Usage for Palau Traders
First, set your calendar to display events in Palau time (UTC+9). Filter by high-impact events only to avoid information overload. Focus on events that affect USD pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY. Before a major release, check the forecast vs previous value — if the actual deviates significantly, expect sharp moves. Avoid entering new trades 30 minutes before and after high-impact events unless you have a clear strategy.
Example: Trading NFP from Palau
Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) is released on the first Friday of each month at 8:30 AM ET. In Palau, that is 9:30 PM Friday night. If the actual number is much higher than forecast, USD typically strengthens. A Palau trader might wait for the initial spike, then enter a long USD trade after the market settles. Always use stop-losses to manage risk.