Economic calendar

17:30 USD Challenger Job Cuts y/y 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.

20:30 USD US Unemployment ClaimsUnemployment Claims Forecast 197KPrevious 194K

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.

20:30 USD Preliminary Unit Labor Costs q/qPrelim Unit Labor Costs q/q Forecast 0.3%Previous 1.3%

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.

20:30 USD US Preliminary Nonfarm Productivity q/qPrelim Nonfarm Productivity q/q Forecast 2.8%Previous 1.4%

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.

20:50 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.

21:10 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.

22:30 USD US Natural Gas StorageNatural Gas Storage Previous 80B

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.

Thursday 5 November 2026