It’s not enough to simply know what’s happening—you need to understand how the market is likely to react to that information. Sometimes, even positive news can lead to a negative market reaction if expectations were even higher. You can use your search engine to find the economic calendar that will convey the information you most need about the nations you’re most excited to track. National economies have been impacted not only by the start of the pandemic back in March 2020, but also news of developing vaccines, vaccine rollouts, the Delta variant, and more. Traders flocked to the Yen and Swiss Franc after news of a potential COVID variant resistant to vaccines, as these safe haven currencies often stand up more strongly to political turmoil.

Step 4: Applying Your Analysis to Trading Decisions

Examples include Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment rate, inflation rate, and consumer spending. Foreign exchange, or forex trading can be profitable, but it entails risks that are not present in other markets. Unlike domestic stock trading, forex traders are also exposed to currency risk when the value of a foreign currency goes fundamental analysis forex up or down.

The most important criteria are the number of jobs created or lost in any given timeframe. For the assessment of inflation, it is also important how quickly salaries rise. As a result, the demand for the respective currency automatically increases, which leads to an increase in prices. A country's GDP is considered the broadest measure of its economy and represents the total market value of all goods and services produced in a country during a given year.

Increased Volatility Rewards Macro-Aware Traders

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also shifted its monetary policy stance to respond to these global pressures. Our mission is to help traders of all levels succeed through education, strategy, and broker recommendations. The goal here is to determine how these factors might affect currency values in the short and long term. By staying informed, you’ll be better equipped to understand what’s driving the currency markets and how these factors might impact your trades.

Key Aspects of Fundamental Analysis

The effects of an economic release on the forex market are comparable to how earnings reports and SEC filings affect stocks. In forex, as in the equities market, any deviation from the norm can cause large price and volume movements. Finally, one of the most significant mistakes is relying entirely on fundamental analysis without incorporating other forms of analysis, such as technical analysis or sentiment analysis. Fundamental analysis can be a bit of a rabbit hole, as there are so many factors that impact currency values, and so many nations whose economies you might want to understand on a deeper level. Keeping an economic calendar handy on your desktop can help keep you informed of upcoming reports and indicators. You want to know in advance when these are coming, since we’ve already discussed how just the anticipation of these reports can cause volatility in the market.

These factors can be understood through world news, economic reports, the actions of central banks, and more. Let’s dive in and get to know each of these individual factors in the forex market so that you can recognize and follow the indicators you need. They are thinking long-term and using forex as a tool for wealth preservation and passive income. By focusing on fundamentals, traders can take positions based on long-term expectations about interest rates, inflation, and economic growth. Global volatility is high due to geopolitical tensions, inflation concerns, and varying central bank strategies across the world. Currency pairs like GBP/NGN and USD/NGN are more active, with sudden spikes and sharp drops that can be difficult to manage without a grasp of macroeconomic conditions.

  • Understanding the context of how these indicators are viewed in the market is just as important as understanding the indicators themselves.
  • When the USD weakens, many traders will be watching inflation for an indication that things might change.
  • In particular, the following advice can get you started on tracking economic indicators and making better-informed trading decisions.
  • Fundamental analysis is a powerful tool, but it’s even more effective when combined with other methods like technical analysis and sentiment analysis.
  • Fundamental analysis determines the intrinsic value of an investment to determine its value, rather than historical price action or market sentiment.
  • Traders flocked to the Yen and Swiss Franc after news of a potential COVID variant resistant to vaccines, as these safe haven currencies often stand up more strongly to political turmoil.

By analyzing the data, you can develop a clearer picture of the market and identify trading opportunities that align with your strategy. Export prices can change pretty rapidly, so you need to keep a good eye on them. For example, after news about huge floods that devastated farms in China in November 2021 dropped, we saw a spike in the value of the USD over the CNH. Even though the Chinese countermeasures to this restored traders’ faith in the yuan a few days later, this event opened multiple opportunities for strong forex trades.

High Risk Warning

Yes, terms like “macroeconomics” and “geopolitics” sound like they belong in a university lecture hall, but don’t let fancy terminology scare you off.

  • The better shape a country’s economy is, the more foreign businesses and investors will invest in that country.
  • Fundamental analysis can be a powerful tool for forex traders, but knowing how to use it effectively is key to making informed trading decisions.
  • Patience is essential, as it can take time for the effects of economic data to play out in the forex market.
  • For now, just know that fundamental analysis is a way of analyzing the potential moves of a currency through the strength or weakness of that country’s economic outlook.
  • Traders who stay updated with international news and macroeconomic trends are finding they can better anticipate currency movements.

Neither our writers nor our editors receive direct compensation of any kind to publish information on tokenist.com. Our company, Tokenist Media LLC, is community supported and may receive a small commission when you purchase products or services through links on our website. Click here for a full list of our partners and an in-depth explanation on how we get paid. If there is a significant impact between the first and second estimates, this can lead to significant volatility. This situation should be considered negative as it directly contributes to the currency’s depreciation.

The overall market sentiment towards a particular currency or region can influence its value. This tool comprises all the publication dates of the most anticipated financial events in a calendar year. However, if the trade deficit exceeds market expectations, the price of the currency can change significantly. For (foreign) investors, the attractiveness of the investment or borrowing in the respective country is determined based on the interest rate.

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In other words, you have to look at different factors to determine whose economy is rockin’ like a BLACKPINK song, and whose economy sucks. Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2025, American Bankers Association. All reviews, research, news and assessments of any kind on The Tokenist are compiled using a strict editorial review process by our editorial team.

Fundamental analysis in forex trading is a method that helps traders understand the true value of a currency by examining the broader economic, financial, and political factors that influence its price. Instead of focusing solely on charts and technical indicators, fundamental analysis digs deep into the underlying reasons that cause currency values to change. Central banks play a pivotal role in shaping a country’s monetary policy, which directly affects currency values. As a forex trader, understanding central bank policies can help you anticipate major market movements. If you’re looking to dive deep into forex trading, you’ve probably come across the term “fundamental analysis.” But what exactly is it, and why is it such a powerful tool for traders? Simply put, fundamental analysis is all about examining the bigger picture—the economic, political, and financial factors that can influence currency values.

Forex traders need to be aware of how political developments and geopolitical risks can influence their trades. Plus, if you understand the underlying principles of what makes a currency tick, you’ll be able to react to news items more quickly. Geopolitical events, such as wars, elections, and trade disputes, can cause significant volatility in the Forex market.

Using Economic Indicators

Central banks set interest rates, which significantly impact a country's currency value. Higher interest rates typically attract foreign capital, increasing the demand for the currency and its value. For example, a comparison of the data on imports and exports is possible based on the foreign trade balance. In return, high exports weigh on the prices of the exporting country and cause prices to depreciate.

When you combine fundamental analysis with other strategies, you create a more holistic approach to forex trading. This integrated method helps you make better-informed decisions, manage risks more effectively, and ultimately improve your chances of trading success. Sentiment analysis is another valuable tool that helps you gauge the overall mood of the market.

In Nigeria, traders are becoming more sophisticated in how they approach the forex market. One major shift being observed is a renewed focus on fundamental analysis over pure technical indicators. Fundamental analysis can be a powerful tool for forex traders, but knowing how to use it effectively is key to making informed trading decisions. It’s not just about understanding the data; it’s about how you interpret and apply that information to your trading strategy. Here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of your fundamental analysis and increase your chances of success in the forex market.

They provide insights into the overall health and direction of an economy, making them essential for any fundamental analysis. By monitoring these indicators, you can gauge whether a country’s currency is likely to strengthen or weaken over time. However, fundamental analysis can give you a heads up on when a currency might be experiencing short-term volatility that you want to capitalize on. Reading an economic calendar and tracking upcoming reports will help you predict these windows and sneak on in to capitalize on a turbulent market. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.