Disclaimer: The information in this Help Center is for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, or a recommendation to trade or invest. Before making any trading or investment decisions, consider whether they are appropriate for your objectives, financial situation, and needs.
At Blueberry, we believe informed trading starts with a solid understanding of the factors that drive the markets. While technical analysis looks at price charts, fundamental analysis examines the economic and geopolitical forces that influence the value of currencies, indices, and stock CFDs.
Whether you're trading major news events or making long-term decisions, here's what you need to know.
Introduction to Economic Indicators
Economic indicators are statistics released by governments and institutions that reflect a country’s economic performance. These data points often trigger market volatility, especially in forex and indices.
Key indicators to monitor:
CPI (Consumer Price Index): Measures inflation
NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls): US jobs report; a major market mover
Interest Rates: Central bank policy decisions affecting currency strength
GDP, Unemployment Rates, Retail Sales, Manufacturing PMI, and others
These indicators are often priced in by the market beforehand but can still spark significant price movement upon release.
Do Economic Announcements Influence Trade Outcomes?
Yes. Economic announcements can significantly impact price volatility, spreads, and liquidity. Traders often position themselves before major releases, or wait until after the dust settles, to take advantage of clearer trends.
Reminder: Manage risk appropriately around high-impact news and consider adjusting lot sizes, stop-losses, and take-profit levels.
Do You Allow News Trading?
Yes, Blueberry allows news trading. However, traders should be aware of potential slippage and widened spreads during news releases, especially when trading on standard accounts or using high leverage.
We recommend:
Using pending orders with caution
Avoiding overly tight stop-losses near news times
Monitoring your margin levels closely
How News Affects Forex and CFD Markets
News events drive sentiment. For example:
A strong jobs report may boost a currency
A dovish central bank may weaken it
Geopolitical instability may cause investors to flock to safe havens like gold or the USD
Understanding cause-and-effect relationships in economic news can help you better understand potential market reactions, not just react to them.
Analyzing Company Fundamentals (for Stock CFDs)
For stock CFDs, traders often evaluate:
Earnings reports
Revenue growth
Profit margins
Debt levels
Market sentiment & analyst outlooks
Blueberry provides access to popular US, AU, and HK stock CFDs. While technical indicators are helpful, fundamental analysis is commonly used to assess a company's financial performance and stability.
Using the Economic Calendar
Blueberry clients can access a real-time Economic Calendar through our website or most third-party tools like TradingView and MetaTrader platforms.
The calendar shows:
Upcoming economic events
Impact rating (high, medium, low)
Previous, forecasted, and actual values
Time of release (in your local time)
Always cross-check time zones and align your trading sessions accordingly.
How to Read the Economic Calendar
A sample entry:
Time (GMT) | Currency | Event | Impact | Previous | Forecast | Actual |
13:30 | USD | CPI m/m | 🔴 High | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
Here’s how to interpret it:
Forecast: Market expectations
Actual: Released figure
If inflation is higher than forecast, the U.S. dollar may strengthen, all else being equal.
Trading Before, During, and After News Events
Each phase carries different risks and opportunities:
Before the event
Markets are often quiet with low volatility
Traders speculate or reposition
During the release
Expect sharp price spikes, increased spreads, and possible slippage
involves elevated execution and market risks.
After the event
Trends may emerge more clearly
Technical levels may be respected again
Blueberry recommends evaluating your risk tolerance and account conditions before engaging in news trading.
Identifying High, Medium, and Low Impact Events
On most calendars:
🔴 High impact: Central bank decisions, NFP, CPI, GDP
🟡 Medium impact: Retail sales, PMIs, speeches
🟢 Low impact: Business confidence, minor sentiment surveys
Understanding the potential volatility behind each release can help you prepare accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Fundamental analysis gives context to price movements and builds a broader trading perspective. At Blueberry, we encourage traders to combine technical and fundamental tools to form a balanced approach.