Fundamental traders depend on fundamental analysis in trading forex. Technical traders depend on technical analysis in trading forex. But the importance of economic data cannot be underestimated in shaping trading strategies.
US Dollar is the most important currency in the global economy. More than 90% of currency trades are done in US Dollar. In most of the currency trades, US Dollar is either the base currency or the counter currency.
For success in forex trading, choice of the right currency pair to trade is very important. US Dollar is the most important currency and most probably you will be also trading US Dollar as a forex trader most of the time. You should know that the release of certain economic data has significant and lasting impact on US Dollar.
You should know as a forex trader that currency markets reaction to the release of different economic data with time also changes. Some years back, US GDP figures used to be important for US Dollar but dont have much impact in recent years.
EURUSD is the most liquid pair in currency markets. The release of Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data on the first Friday of every month makes this pair and other pairs involving USD highly volatile.
Similarly, the release of US housing sales number every month has become very significant for USD in the recent years. Previously, forex markets used to give more importance to US Trade Balance.
If you are a range trader who likes to scalp for a few pips every trade, you should avoid trading on the day NFP data is released. Release of NFP figures makes the markets jittery and highly volatile.
However, if you use breakout trading as your trading strategy, understanding which economic data is expected to be released on a particular day can help you in your trading. You should plan your trading strategy in accordance with the significance of the economic data to be released.
In brief, knowledge that certain economic indicators make the forex markets move most is important for you as a trader. It is also important for you to know that particular economic data, the market considers most important at any point in time.
You should also understand which economic data causes knee jerk reaction in the currency markets and which pieces of economic data will have lasting reaction in the currency markets.