FX.co ★ Traders economic calendar. International economic events

The survey covers transport & communication, financial intermediation, business services, personal services, computing & IT and hotels & restaurants. Each response received is weighted according to the size of the company to which the questionnaire refers & the contribution to total service sector output accounted for by the sub-sector to which that company belongs. This therefore ensures that replies from larger companies have a greater impact on the final index numbers than replies from small companies.The results are presented by question asked, showing the % of respondents reporting an improvement, deterioration or no-change since the previous month. From these %, an index is derived such that a level of 50.0 signals no-change since the previous month. Above 50.0 signals an increase (or improvement),below 50.0 a decrease(or deterioration).The greater the divergence from 50.0, the greater the rate of change signaled.

GDP measures the summary value of goods and services generated in a relevant country or region. A region's gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of the ways for measuring the size of its economy. Expenditure approach - Total expenditures on all finished goods and services produced within the economy. Calculation: GDP using the expenditure approach is derived as the sum of all final expenditures, changes in inventories and exports of goods and services less imports of goods and services. Market influence of GDP: Unexpectedly high quarterly GDP growth is perceived to be potentially inflationary if the economy is close to full capacity; this, in turn, causes bond prices to drop and yields and interest rates to rise. As far as the stock market is concerned, higher than expected growth leads to higher profits and that's good for the stock market.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the annualized change in the inflation-adjusted value of all goods and services produced by the economy. It is the broadest measure of economic activity and the primary indicator of the economy's health. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the BHD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the BHD.

The Building Approvals report is a significant economic indicator in Australia, offering insights into the development and growth of the housing sector. This data provides estimations of future construction activity, and by extension, the wellbeing of the construction industry. The number of buildings approved for construction helps analysts to evaluate job prospects in the sector and to predict if any fluctuations in the housing market are imminent.

Building approvals also indicate the confidence level of builders and can reflect expectations about the economy’s overall health. A high number of approvals might suggest high future investment in construction and therefore overall economic growth. Conversely, a decrease might signal a decline in the construction sector and potentially wider economic troubles. For these reasons, the Building Approvals report is closely watched by economists, investors, and policy makers alike.

Building Approvals (also known as Building Permits) measures the change in the number of new building approvals issued by the government. Building permits are key indicator of demand in the housing market.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the AUD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the AUD.

Exports of goods and services consist of transactions in goods and services (sales, barter, gifts or grants) from residents to non-residents. Exports free on board (f.o.b.) and imports cost insurance freight (c.i.f.) are, in general, customs statistics reported under the general trade statistics according to the recommendations of the UN International Trade Statistics.

A higher than expected number should be taken as positive to the AUD, while a lower than expected number as negative.

Exports free on board (f.o.b.) and Imports cost insurance freight (c.i.f.) are, in general, customs statistics reported under the general trade statistics according to the recommendations of the UN International Trade Statistics. For some countries Imports are reported as f.o.b. instead of c.i.f. which is generally accepted. When reporting Imports as f.o.b. you will have the effect of reducing the value of Imports by the amount of the cost of insurance and freight.

A higher than expected number should be taken as positive to the AUD, while a lower than expected number as negative.

Construction industry provides information on construction output and activity. Such information gives an insight into the supply on the housing and construction market. Rising number of new construction starts or value of construction completed reflects higher consumer and business optimism. Expanding construction indicates growth in the housing market and predicts an increase in the overall economy. However, an excessive supply of new buildings may result in a drop in housing prices. The construction industry is one of the first to go into a recession when the economy declines but also to recover as conditions improve. Statistics of building work approved are compiled from: permits issued by local government authorities; contracts let or day labour work authorised by Commonwealth, State, semi-government and local government authorities; major building activity in areas not subject to normal administrative approval e.g. building on remote mine sites.

The Trade Balance measures the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services over the reported period. A positive number indicates that more goods and services were exported than imported.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the AUD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the AUD.

The figures displayed in the calendar represent the yield on the JGB auctioned.

JGB's have maturities of up to 50 years. Governments issue treasuries to borrow money to cover the gap between the amount they receive in taxes and the amount they spend to refinance existing debt and/or to raise capital. The rate on a JGB represents the return an investor will receive by holding the note for its entire duration. All bidders receive the same rate at the highest accepted bid.

Yield fluctuations should be monitored closely as an indicator of the government debt situation. Investors compare the average rate at auction to the rate at previous auctions of the same security.

The consumer price index (CPI) is a measure of change over a specified period oftime in the general level of prices of goods and services that a given population acquires, uses or pays for consumption. It compares a household's cost for a specific basket of finished goods and services with the cost of the same basket during an earlier benchmark period.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in the price of goods and services from the perspective of the consumer. It is a key way to measure changes in purchasing trends.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the THB , while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the THB.

Consumer Spending measures the change in the inflation-adjusted value of all goods expenditures by consumers. Consumer spending accounts for the majority of economic activity. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR , while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

German Factory Orders measures the change in the total value of new purchase orders placed with manufacturers for both durable and non-durable goods. It is a leading indicator of production.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in the price of goods and services from the perspective of the consumer. It is a key way to measure changes in purchasing trends.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the SEK, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the SEK.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in the price of goods and services from the perspective of the consumer. It is a key way to measure changes in purchasing trends.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the SEK, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the SEK.

Sweden, Consumer Prices, By Commodity, Special Indexes, Underlying CPIF, Index. The Underlying Inflation Rate according to CPIF (CPI at constant interest rates) differs from CPI by keeping interest rate for households mortgage interest payment at a constant rate. CPIF is calculated on request fromSveriges Riksbank (the Swedish central bank).

Sweden, Consumer Prices, By Commodity, Special Indexes, Underlying CPIF, Index. The Underlying Inflation Rate according to CPIF (CPI at constant interest rates) differs from CPI by keeping interest rate for households mortgage interest payment at a constant rate. CPIF is calculated on request fromSveriges Riksbank (the Swedish central bank).

The Hungarian Industrial Output is a useful indicator of the economy because it is more current compared to the GNP and reported every month. Total Industrial Production includes Mining,Manufacturing, and Energy but it excludes transportation, services, and agriculture which is included in GNP. Industrial Production is generally more volatile than GNP. Changes in the volume of the physical output of the nation's factories, mineand utilities are measured by the index of industrial production. The figure is calculated as a weighted aggregate of goods and reported in headlines as a percent change from previous months. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the HUF , while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the HUF.

Retail sales data represents total consumer purchase from retail stores. It provides valuable information about consumer spending which makes up the consumption part of GDP. The most volatile components like autos, gas prices and food prices are often removed from the report to show more underlying demand patterns as changes in sales in these categories are frequently a result of price changes. Rising retail sales indicate stronger economic growth. However, if the increase is larger than forecast, it may be inflationary. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the HUF , while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the HUF.

French Non-farm Payrolls measures the change in the number of employed people, excluding the farming industry and government.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the labour force. A lower than expected number should be taken as positive to the CHF, while a higher than expected number as negative.

The Unemployment Rate measures the percentage of the total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the previous month.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the CHF, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the CHF.

Industrial Production measures the change in the total inflation-adjusted value of output produced by manufacturers, mines, and utilities.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

The wholesale price index is part of a comprehensive price index system that uses the producer price index, the import price index and the consumer price index to reflect price trends at the various stages of the economic process. The task of the wholesale price index (GHPI) is to show the development of the prices of goods sold by wholesalers. The price survey for the 384 goods in the shopping cart is currently carried out by around 470 wholesalers who provide around 2400 wholesale sales prices (excluding VAT) per month. The wholesale price index is used for numerous contractual agreements and value safeguards, both by public authorities and by domestic and foreign companies. The wholesale price index is also used as a deflator for the monthly sales indices of the wholesale trade, for value-based production data and in the context of national accounts. Selected key figures from the wholesale price index are used to create the construction cost index.

The wholesale price index is part of a comprehensive price index system that uses the producer price index, the import price index and the consumer price index to reflect price trends at the various stages of the economic process. The task of the wholesale price index (GHPI) is to show the development of the prices of goods sold by wholesalers. The price survey for the 384 goods in the shopping cart is currently carried out by around 470 wholesalers who provide around 2400 wholesale sales prices (excluding VAT) per month. The wholesale price index is used for numerous contractual agreements and value safeguards, both by public authorities and by domestic and foreign companies. The wholesale price index is also used as a deflator for the monthly sales indices of the wholesale trade, for value-based production data and in the context of national accounts. Selected key figures from the wholesale price index are used to create the construction cost index.

Industry is a basic category of business activity. Firms in the same industry are on the same side of the market, produce goods which are close substitutes and compete for the same customers. For statistical purposes, industries are categorized following a uniform classification code such as Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). Changes in the volume of the physical output of the nation's factories, mines and utilities are measured by the index of industrial production. The figure is calculated as a weighted aggregate of goods and reported in headlines as a percent change from previous months. It is often adjusted by season or weather conditions and thus volatile. However, it is used as a leading indicator and helps in forecasting GDP changes.

Trade balance, called also net export, is the difference between the value of country's exports and imports, over a period of time. A positive balance (trade surplus) means that exports exceed imports, a negative one means the opposite. Positive trade balance illustrates high competitiveness of country's economy. This strengthens investors' interest in the local currency, appreciating its exchange rate. Exports free on board (f.o.b.) and Imports cost insurance freight (c.i.f.) are, in general, customs statistics reported under the general trade statistics. According to the recommendations of the UN International Trade Statistics.

Construction output includes construction work done by enterprises with prevailing construction activity. Construction industry provides information on construction output and activity. Such information gives an insight into the supply on the housing and construction market.The construction industry is one of the first to go into a recession when the economy declines but also to recover as conditions improve. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR , while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

Industrial Production measures the change in the total inflation-adjusted value of output produced by manufacturers, mines, and utilities. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR , while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

The Italy Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is an economic indicator that measures the level of business activity in the Italian construction sector. It is based on survey responses from purchasing managers in the industry, covering factors such as new orders, employment, supplier deliveries, and inventories.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the construction sector, while a reading below 50 signifies contraction. The index is an important tool for analysts, policymakers, and investors to gauge the health of the construction industry in the Italian economy and make informed decisions. As the construction sector is a significant component of the overall economy, the PMI can provide insights into broader economic trends.

IHS Markit Germany Construction PMI is compiled from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of about 150 construction company purchasing managers. The panel is stratified by company workforce size based on contributions to GDP. Survey responses are collected during the second half of each month and indicate the direction of change compared to the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates an overall increase compared to the previous month; below 50 signals an overall decrease.

The France Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is a monthly economic indicator that measures the performance of the construction sector in France. Compiled by the IHS Markit, it is based on a survey of purchasing managers from construction companies. The PMI is a highly-regarded index, reflecting changes in activity, employment, new orders, and prices within the construction industry.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the construction sector, while a reading below 50 signifies contraction. As a leading indicator of economic performance, the France Construction PMI can provide valuable insights for investors, businesses, and policymakers about the health of the French construction industry and its potential impact on economic growth.

The Eurozone Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) is a leading economic indicator that measures the performance of the construction sector in the Eurozone. It is a composite index derived from survey data collected from purchasing managers in the construction industry. The survey includes measures of employment, new orders, output, prices, and delivery times, as well as other aspects related to the construction sector.

A PMI value above 50 indicates expansion in the construction sector, while a value below 50 signals a contraction. The Eurozone Construction PMI is closely watched by investors and policymakers since it provides insights into the health of the construction sector, which is a key component of the overall economy. The results can have a significant impact on interest rate decisions, currency movements, and investment decisions by both financial institutions and governments.

Industrial Production measures the change in the total inflation-adjusted value of output produced by manufacturers, mines, and utilities.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

Industrial Production Index is an economic indicator that measures changes in output for the manufacturing, mining, and utilities. Although these sectors contribute only a small portion of GDP, they are highly sensitive to interest rates and consumer demand. This makes Industrial Production an important tool for forecasting future GDP and economic performance. A higher than expected number should be taken as positive to the EUR, while a lower than expected number as negative

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in the price of goods and services from the perspective of the consumer. It is a key way to measure changes in purchasing trends.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the GBP, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the GBP.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in the price of goods and services from the perspective of the consumer. It is a key way to measure changes in purchasing trends.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the TWD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the TWD.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in the price of goods and services from the perspective of the consumer. It is a key way to measure changes in purchasing trends.

The impact on the currency may go both ways, a rise in CPI may lead to a rise in interest rates and a rise in local currency, on the other hand, during recession, a rise in CPI may lead to a deepened recession and therefore a fall in local currency.

The European Central Bank's (ECB) Economic Bulletin (formerly Monthly Bulletin) contains the statistical data that policymakers evaluate when setting interest rates. The report also provides detailed analysis of current and future economic conditions from the bank's perspective. The Economic Bulletin is published two weeks after the monetary policy meeting of the Governing Council of the ECB.

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Construction Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) measures the activity level of purchasing managers in the construction industry. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the construction industry; a reading below indicates contraction. It gives an indication about the health of the construction section in the UK. Traders watch these surveys closely as purchasing managers usually have early access to data about their company’s performance, which can be a leading indicator of overall economic performance.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the GBP, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the GBP.

Retail Sales measure the change in the total value of inflation-adjusted sales at the retail level. It is the foremost indicator of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

Retail Sales measure the change in the total value of inflation-adjusted sales at the retail level. It is the foremost indicator of consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity. A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the EUR while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the EUR.

Challenger Job Cuts, released by Challenger, Grey & Christmas monthly, provides information on the number of announced corporate layoffs by industry and region. The report is an indicator used by investors to determine the strength of the labor market. A lower than expected number should be taken as positive to the USD, while a higher than expected number as negative

Challenger Job Cuts measures the change in the number of job cuts announced by employers.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD.

Unemployment is the total number of all persons above a specified age, who in a short reference period were: not employed, available for work (either for paid work or for self employment) and were seeking work (were actively searching for employment or taking active steps towards self-employment).The Live Register is compiled from returns made directly to the Central Statistics Office by each local office of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. It comprises persons under 65 years of age in the following classes: All Claimants for Unemployment Benefit (UB) excluding systematic short-time workers Applicants for Unemployment Assistance (UA) excluding smallholders/farm assists and other self-employed persons Other registrants including applicants for credited Social Welfare contributions but excluding those directly involved in an industrial dispute.

Foreign exchange reserves are only the foreign currency deposits held by central banks and monetary authorities. The Bank of Israel operates in the FX markets by buying and selling foreign currency in response to exchange rate movements. The dollars which the Bank is purchasing become part of the Bank's foreign exchange reserves.

FX Reserves measures the foreign assets held or controlled by the country's central bank. The reserves are made of gold or a specific currency. They can also be special drawing rights and marketable securities denominated in foreign currencies like treasury bills, government bonds, corporate bonds and equities and foreign currency loans.

FX Reserves measures the foreign assets held or controlled by the country's central bank. The reserves are made of gold or a specific currency. They can also be special drawing rights and marketable securities denominated in foreign currencies like treasury bills, government bonds, corporate bonds and equities and foreign currency loans.

The Bank Rate is an economic calendar event in Malawi that showcases the interest rate set by the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM). This is the rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks in the country. Policy decisions regarding the bank rate are used as a tool by the RBM to either stimulate economic growth or control inflation.

Changes in the bank rate can impact the economy in several ways, including influencing borrowing and lending rates offered by commercial banks, as well as encouraging or discouraging consumer spending and business investment. An increase in the bank rate generally leads to higher borrowing costs, which may slow economic activity, while a decrease in the rate has the potential to stimulate growth by making credit more affordable.

Investors and market participants closely monitor the bank rate announcements, as they can influence the value of the Malawian kwacha and other financial market instruments. Consequently, it is a vital indicator of monetary policy direction and the overall health of the Malawian economy.

Continuing Jobless Claims measures the number of unemployed individuals who qualify for benefits under unemployment insurance.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD.

Initial Jobless Claims measures the number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week. This is the earliest U.S. economic data, but the market impact varies from week to week.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD.

Initial Jobless Claims measures the number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week.

As the week to week numbers might be very volatile, the four week moving average smooths the weekly data and used for the initial jobless claims metric A higher than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD.

Nonfarm Productivity measures the annualized change in labor efficiency when producing goods and services, excluding the farming industry. Productivity and labor-related inflation are directly linked-a drop in a worker's productivity is equivalent to a rise in their wage.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD.

Unit Labor Costs measure the annualized change in the price businesses pay for labor, excluding the farming industry. It is a leading indicator of consumer inflation.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD.

The Czech National Bank (CNB) Monetary Policy Committee's decision on where to set the benchmark interest rate. Traders watch interest rate changes closely as short term interest rates are the primary factor in currency valuation.

A higher than expected rate is positive/bullish for the CZK, while a lower than expected rate is negative/bearish for the CZK.

 Foreign Exchange Reserves are the foreign assets held or controlled by the country central bank. The reserves are made of gold or a specific currency. They can also be special drawing rights and marketable securities denominated in foreign currencies like treasury bills, government bonds, corporate bonds and equities and foreign currency loans. A higher than expected number should be taken as positive to the RUB, while a lower than expected number as negative

The Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) measures the activity level of purchasing managers in the services sector. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector; a reading below 50 indicates contraction. Traders watch these surveys closely as purchasing managers usually have early access to data about their company’s performance, which can be a leading indicator of overall economic performance.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the GBP, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the GBP.

Wholesale Inventories measures the change in the total value of goods held in inventory by wholesalers.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the USD, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the USD.

Change in the total value of sales at the wholesale level.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) Natural Gas Storage report measures the change in the number of cubic feet of natural gas held in underground storage during the past week.

While this is a U.S. indicator it tends to have a greater impact on the Canadian dollar, due to Canada's sizable energy sector.

If the increase in natural gas inventories is more than expected, it implies weaker demand and is bearish for natural gas prices. The same can be said if a decline in inventories is less than expected.

If the increase in natural gas is less than expected, it implies greater demand and is bullish for natural gas prices. The same can be said if a decline in inventories is more than expected.

The figures displayed in the calendar represent the rate on the Treasury Bill auctioned.

U.S. Treasury Bills have maturities of a few days to one year. Governments issue treasuries to borrow money to cover the gap between the amount they receive in taxes and the amount they spend to refinance existing debt and/or to raise capital. The rate on a Treasury Bill represents the return an investor will receive by holding the bill for its entire duration. All bidders receive the same rate at the highest accepted bid.

Yield fluctuations should be monitored closely as an indicator of the government debt situation. Investors compare the average rate at auction to the rate at previous auctions of the same security.

The figures displayed in the calendar represent the rate on the Treasury Bill auctioned.U.S. Treasury Bills have maturities of a few days to one year. Governments issue treasuries to borrow money to cover the gap between the amount they receive in taxes and the amount they spend to refinance existing debt and/or to raise capital. The rate on a Treasury Bill represents the return an investor will receive by holding the bill for its entire duration. All bidders receive the same rate at the highest accepted bid. Yield fluctuations should be monitored closely as an indicator of the government debt situation. Investors compare the average rate at auction to the rate at previous auctions of the same security.

The Atlanta Fed GDPNow is an economic event that provides a real-time estimate of the United States' gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the current quarter. It serves as a valuable indicator for analysts, policymakers, and economists looking to gauge the health of the American economy.

Created and maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the GDPNow model utilizes a sophisticated algorithm that processes incoming data from official government sources. These sources include reports on manufacturing, trade, retail sales, housing, and other sectors, which allows the Atlanta Fed to update their GDP growth projections on a frequent basis.

As an essential benchmark for economic performance, the GDPNow forecast can significantly impact financial markets and influence investment decisions. Market participants often use the GDPNow forecast to adjust their expectations regarding monetary policies and various economic outcomes.

The Exchequer Balance is the traditional domestic budgetary aggregate which measures Central Government's net surplus or borrowing position. It is the difference between total receipts into and total expenditure out of the Exchequer Account of the Central Fund.It measures the sum of the current and capital balances. The Exchequer Account is the single bank account of the Central Fund and is held at the Central Bank of Ireland. The annual audited accounts of the Exchequer Account produced by the Department of Finance are known as the Finance Accounts. An unaudited summary known as the Exchequer Statement is produced at the end of each month. Under the Irish Constitution, all Government receipts are paid in to the Central Fund and all Government expenditure is funded from it, unless provided otherwise by law.

The Trade Balance measures the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services over the reported period. A positive number indicates that more goods and services were exported than imported.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the BRL, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the BRL.

The Bank of Mexico's Monetary Policy Committee's decision on where to set the benchmark interest rate. Traders watch interest rate changes closely as short term interest rates are the primary factor in currency valuation.

A higher than expected rate is positive/bullish for the MXN, while a lower than expected rate is negative/bearish for the MXN.

The Fed balance sheet is a statement listing the assets and liabilities of the Federal Reserve System. Details of the Fed's balance sheet are disclosed by the Fed in a weekly report called "Factors Affecting Reserve Balances."

Reserve Balances with Federal Reserve Banks is the amount of money that depository institutions maintain in their accounts at their regional Federal Reserve Banks.

Household Spending measures the change in the inflation-adjusted value of all expenditures by consumers.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the JPY, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the JPY.

Household Spending measures the change in the inflation-adjusted value of all expenditures by consumers.

A higher than expected reading should be taken as positive/bullish for the JPY, while a lower than expected reading should be taken as negative/bearish for the JPY.

Official reserve assets comprises foreign currency reserves, IMF reserve position, SDRs and gold. A higher than expected number should be taken as positive to the JPY, while a lower than expected number as negative.