Economic calendar

Tuesday 3 November 2026

22:16 USD US Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

What it is: Elections for seats in the US House of Representatives and part of the Senate, held on a fixed schedule by federal and state authorities.
Why it matters: The result shows which party controls Congress, which can shape fiscal policy, taxes and government spending. Traders watch it, though it is usually less important than major economic data.
Usual market reaction: Markets do not react to a figure here but to whether the outcome matches expectations. If the result differs a lot from what was priced in, the US dollar may become more volatile as investors rethink fiscal policy and government borrowing. Gold and US stock indices often move with the dollar and overall risk mood.

04:45 NZD NZ Employment Change (q/q)Employment Change q/q Forecast 0.4%Previous 0.5%

What it is: The quarterly change in the number of employed people in New Zealand, published by Stats NZ.
Why it matters: The job market shows how healthy the economy is and affects inflation pressure, which the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) weighs when setting interest rates. It is usually an important release for the NZD.
Usual market reaction: Prices react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A higher-than-forecast result usually supports the New Zealand dollar, as it may suggest the RBNZ is in less of a hurry to cut rates. A lower-than-forecast result tends to weigh on the NZD.

04:45 NZD NZ Unemployment RateUnemployment Rate Forecast 5.5%Previous 5.6%

What it is: The share of people actively looking for work compared with New Zealand's total labour force, published quarterly by Stats NZ.
Why it matters: It is a key job-market gauge that the RBNZ considers when deciding on interest rates, so it is usually an important release for the NZD.
Usual market reaction: Prices react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. Here a lower number means a stronger job market, so a lower-than-forecast rate usually supports the NZD, while a higher-than-forecast rate tends to weigh on it. This is because the market may then expect the RBNZ to ease policy more.

20:30 USD Average Hourly Earnings m/m Forecast 0.3%Previous 0.1%

What it is: This shows how much average hourly pay for US workers changed compared with the previous month. It is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) alongside the NFP jobs report.
Why it matters: Rising wages can push up prices, so this figure is linked to the Fed's interest rate decisions. It is usually considered a very important release.
Usual market reaction: Markets tend to react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A higher-than-forecast result usually supports the US dollar (USD), while a lower one usually weighs on it. Gold often moves in the opposite direction to the dollar, so a stronger dollar tends to pressure gold.

20:30 USD Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)Non-Farm Employment Change Forecast 65KPrevious 29K

What it is: NFP shows how many jobs the US economy added or lost in the previous month, excluding farm work. It is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Why it matters: The job market reflects the health of the US economy and influences the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decisions, so this is one of the most closely watched releases in the world.
Usual market reaction: Prices usually react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A higher-than-forecast number tends to support the US dollar, as it points to a strong economy and may keep interest rates higher for longer; a lower-than-forecast number often weighs on the dollar. Gold often moves in the opposite direction to the dollar, and both currencies and US stock indices can be very volatile around the release.

20:30 USD US Unemployment RateUnemployment Rate Forecast 4.2%Previous 4.2%

What it is: The unemployment rate is the share of the US labour force that has no job but is actively looking for one. It is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) together with the NFP report.
Why it matters: Employment is one of the Federal Reserve's two main goals alongside inflation, so this figure shapes expectations for interest rates and is closely watched.
Usual market reaction: Prices usually react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A lower-than-forecast unemployment rate tends to support the US dollar because it signals a strong job market, while a higher-than-forecast rate often weighs on it. Gold often moves in the opposite direction to the dollar, so it may find support when the dollar weakens.

04:45 NZD New Zealand Parliamentary ElectionsParliamentary Elections

What it is: A general election in which New Zealand voters choose members of Parliament, which determines which party or parties form the government.
Why it matters: The result can shape budget, tax and economic policy, so it affects investor confidence in the New Zealand dollar. It tends to matter more when the result is close.
Usual market reaction: Markets usually compare the outcome with expectations from polls and news. A clear result with policies the market views favourably may support the New Zealand dollar (NZD), while an unclear result or uncertainty often leads to volatility or weakness. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand sets rates independently, so the impact usually comes from sentiment rather than direct rate changes.