Economic calendar
Times follow your own time zone automatically (change it below). Tap an event to see what it is, why it matters and how markets usually react.
Thursday 5 November 2026
AUD Australia Goods Trade BalanceGoods Trade Balance Forecast 0.94BPrevious 0.50B
Forecast0.94BPrevious0.50B
- What it is
- The difference between the value of Australia's goods exports and imports, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). A positive number is a surplus and a negative number is a deficit.
- Why it matters
- Australia mainly exports resources such as iron ore and coal, so this figure reflects demand for its goods and the health of its economy. Its importance is usually moderate.
- Usual market reaction
- Markets react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A larger-than-expected surplus (or smaller deficit) tends to support the Australian dollar, as more demand for the currency is needed to pay for exports, while a weaker result often weighs on it. The impact is usually limited unless the figure differs a lot from expectations.
AUD RBA Deputy Governor Hauser SpeaksRBA Deputy Gov Hauser Speaks
- What it is
- This is a public speech or set of remarks by the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), one of the central bank's senior officials.
- Why it matters
- Traders listen for clues about the central bank's view on the economy, inflation and the likely path of interest rates. Its importance usually depends on the content and tone of the remarks.
- Usual market reaction
- Markets judge whether the comments sound hawkish (hinting at higher or longer-held rates) or dovish (hinting at rate cuts) compared with expectations. Hawkish remarks tend to support the Australian dollar, while dovish ones often weigh on it. If nothing new is said, the reaction is often small.
CHF Swiss Unemployment RateUnemployment Rate Forecast 3.1%Previous 3.1%
Forecast3.1%Previous3.1%
- What it is
- This shows the share of the Swiss labour force that is out of work. It is published monthly by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
- Why it matters
- Traders use it to gauge the health of the Swiss labour market and economy, which can influence the Swiss National Bank's (SNB) view on interest rates. It is usually of medium importance.
- Usual market reaction
- Prices react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A higher-than-forecast unemployment rate is often read as a weaker economy and tends to weigh on the Swiss franc (CHF), while a lower-than-forecast figure usually supports it. The reaction is often modest compared with inflation data or central bank meetings.
USD Challenger Job Cuts y/y Previous -19.9%
Previous-19.9%
- What it is
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a US employment consulting firm, publishes the number of job cuts announced by US employers. This figure shows the change compared with the same period a year earlier.
- Why it matters
- It offers a hint about whether the US labor market is weakening or staying strong, often ahead of jobs reports such as NFP. It is usually a low-to-medium importance release.
- Usual market reaction
- Traders usually compare the actual figure with the forecast or the previous reading. Higher-than-forecast job cuts tend to be read as a weaker labor market, which often weighs on the US dollar, while lower-than-forecast cuts usually support it. Gold often moves in the opposite direction to the dollar, so it may get support when the dollar weakens, although this link is not always consistent.
CHF SNB Chairman Schlegel Speaks
- What it is
- This is a public speech or set of remarks by Martin Schlegel, Chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), which is Switzerland's central bank.
- Why it matters
- A central bank chief's comments can offer clues about interest rates, monetary policy and the central bank's view of the Swiss franc. Traders follow it, and its importance usually depends on what is said.
- Usual market reaction
- Traders usually listen for hints about rate changes, views on inflation or possible action on the currency. If the tone is firmer than the market expects, the Swiss franc often strengthens, while a softer tone than expected tends to weigh on it. Gold sometimes draws attention when the franc moves sharply, as both are often seen as safe-haven assets.
USD US Unemployment ClaimsUnemployment Claims Forecast 197KPrevious 194K
Forecast197KPrevious194K
- What it is
- This is a weekly figure showing how many people in the US filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. It is published by the US Department of Labor.
- Why it matters
- It is an early signal of how healthy the job market is, which the Fed considers when setting interest rates. The figure can swing from week to week, so it is usually of medium importance.
- Usual market reaction
- Prices tend to react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. This data works in reverse: a lower-than-forecast number suggests a stronger job market and usually supports the US dollar, while a higher-than-forecast number suggests a weaker one and often weighs on the dollar. Gold often moves opposite to the dollar in the short term.
USD US Preliminary Nonfarm Productivity q/qPrelim Nonfarm Productivity q/q Forecast 2.8%Previous 1.4%
Forecast2.8%Previous1.4%
- What it is
- This measures how much output US workers produce per hour worked. It is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as a preliminary quarterly figure.
- Why it matters
- Traders watch it because it reflects how efficiently the economy is running and ties into labor costs and inflation. It is usually of medium importance.
- Usual market reaction
- Prices tend to react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A higher-than-forecast result is often read as a sign of a healthy economy and usually supports the US dollar, while a lower result tends to weigh on it. The reaction can be mixed because traders also look at unit labor costs released alongside it. Gold often moves in the opposite direction to the dollar.
USD Preliminary Unit Labor Costs q/qPrelim Unit Labor Costs q/q Forecast 0.3%Previous 1.3%
Forecast0.3%Previous1.3%
- What it is
- The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes this figure, which measures the change in labor costs needed to produce one unit of output compared with the previous quarter. It is usually released together with labor productivity data.
- Why it matters
- Fast-rising labor costs can add pressure on inflation, which the Fed considers when setting interest rates. It is usually a medium-importance release.
- Usual market reaction
- Traders usually compare the actual figure with the forecast. A higher-than-forecast result tends to be read as more inflation pressure and may lead markets to expect rates to stay higher for longer, which often supports the US dollar, while a lower result usually weighs on it. Gold often moves opposite to the dollar and bond yields, so it may soften when the dollar strengthens, but because this figure is often revised later, the reaction is usually moderate.
USD FOMC Member Hammack Speaks
- What it is
- Beth Hammack is the president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank and takes part in FOMC meetings, which set US interest rate policy.
- Why it matters
- Comments from FOMC participants help the market guess where interest rates may head next. The importance usually depends on the speaker's influence and what is said.
- Usual market reaction
- Traders listen for hints about interest rates, inflation and the job market. A hawkish tone (leaning toward higher or longer-held rates) tends to support the US dollar and may weigh on gold, while a dovish tone (leaning toward rate cuts) often pressures the dollar and may support gold. Moves are usually modest unless the speech contains something new.
USD FOMC Member Barkin Speaks
- What it is
- Tom Barkin is the president of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank and takes part in FOMC meetings, which set US interest rate policy.
- Why it matters
- Traders watch because his remarks can reveal views on the economy and interest rates, helping the market gauge Fed policy. The importance is usually low to medium.
- Usual market reaction
- Traders listen for hints about rates, inflation and the labor market. A hawkish tone tends to support the US dollar and may weigh on gold, while a dovish tone often pressures the dollar and may support gold. If there is nothing new, the market reaction is usually small.
USD US Natural Gas StorageNatural Gas Storage Forecast 81BPrevious 80B
Forecast81BPrevious80B
- What it is
- A weekly report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showing how much natural gas is held in underground storage in the US and how that changed from the previous week.
- Why it matters
- Energy traders use it to judge the balance between natural gas supply and demand, so it mainly affects natural gas prices. Its impact on currencies and broader markets is usually limited.
- Usual market reaction
- Prices tend to react to the actual figure compared with the forecast. A bigger-than-expected build (or a smaller-than-expected draw) suggests more supply and usually weighs on natural gas prices, while a smaller build or larger draw often supports them. The effect on the US dollar and gold is generally small.
Calendar data from Forex Factory. Explanations are written by AI for education, not investment advice.