Economic calendar · USD
Unemployment claims: what it is and how to trade it
New filings for US unemployment benefits in the past week.
What it measures
New filings for US unemployment benefits in the past week.
How traders handle it
A steady rise over several weeks matters more than any single week.
Price reacts to the surprise: the actual number minus the forecast. A great number that everyone expected can move nothing at all.
Reading it on the calendar
Each event shows an impact level, the previous figure, the forecast and, once released, the actual. Compare actual with forecast, and watch for revisions to the previous figure.
Frequently asked questions
When is Unemployment claims released?
Every Thursday, 8:30 am New York.
Which pairs move most on Unemployment claims?
USD pairs.
How should beginners trade it?
Most beginners should be flat or protected before the release, then wait 15–30 minutes and trade a clean break of the release candle's range. Read Trading the News.
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