JP BoJ Monetary Policy Statement

Location: Japan

Date: 20/12/2013

Time: 03:00

Strength: 3/3

Previous:

Notes: An official monetary policy statement is released by the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan. By communicating the committee��s vote outcome regarding interest rates and other policy measures as well as the economic conditions influencing their decision, the statement gives clue to future changes in monetary policy.

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CN HSBC Manufacturing PMI

Location: China

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 01:45

Strength: 2/3

Previous: 50.4

Notes: The HSBC Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released by the Markit Economics is an early indicator of economic health in the Chinese manufacturing sector. Any reading above 50 signals expansion, while a reading under 50 shows contraction. As the Chinese economy has influence on the global economy, this economic indicator would have an impact on the Forex market.

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UK Gfk Consumer Confidence

Location: United Kingdom

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 00:05

Strength: 2/3

Previous: -12

Notes: The GfK Group Consumer Confidence is a leading index that measures the level of consumer confidence in economic activity. A high level of consumer confidence stimulates economic expansion while a low level drives to economic downturn. Normally, a high reading is positive for the GBP, while a low reading is bearish.

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NZ ANZ Business Confidence

Location: New Zealand

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 00:00

Strength: 2/3

Previous: 60.5%

Notes: The Business Confidence released by the ANZ shows the business outlook in New Zealand. The Business Confidence allows analysis of economic situation in the short term. Increasing numbers indicates increases in business investment that lead to higher levels of output. Thus, a high reading is seen as positive (or bullish) for the NZD, while a low reading is seen as negative (or bearish).

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JP Merchandise Trade Balance Total

Location: Japan

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 0 - F

Strength: 2/3

Previous: -��1090.7B

Notes: The Merchandise Trade Balance Total released by the Ministry of Finance is a measure of balance amount between import and export. A positive value shows a trade surplus while a negative value shows a trade deficit. Japan is so much dependant on exports that the Japanese economy heavily relies on a trade surplus. Therefore, any variation in the figures influences the domestic economy. If a steady demand in exchange for Japanese exports is seen, that would turn into a positive.

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NZ Trade Balance (MoM)

Location: New Zealand

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 21:45

Strength: 2/3

Previous:

Notes: The Trade Balance released by the Statistics New Zealand is a measure of balance amount between import and export. A positive value shows a trade surplus while a negative value shows a trade deficit. Any variation in the figures influences the domestic economy. If a steady demand in exchange for exports is seen, that would turn into a positive growth in the trade balance, and that should be positive for the NZD.Review Alex Nekritin's Article - Trading New Zealand Dollar with New Zealand Trade Balance

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NZ Trade Balance (YoY)

Location: New Zealand

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 21:45

Strength: 2/3

Previous:

Notes: Trade balance, released by Statistics New Zealand, is the difference between the value of country's exports and imports, over a period of year. A positive balance means that exports exceed imports, a negative ones means the opposite. Positive trade balance illustrates high competitiveness of country's economy.

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US Initial Jobless Claims

Location: United States

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 13:30

Strength: 2/3

Previous: 368K

Notes: The Initial Jobless Claims released by the US Department of Labor is a measure of the number of people filing first-time claims for state unemployment insurance. In other words, it provides a measure of strength in the labor market. A larger than expected number indicates weakness in this market which influences the strength and direction of the US economy. Generally speaking, a decreasing number should be taken as positive or bullish for the USD.

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US Continuing Jobless Claims

Location: United States

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 13:30

Strength: 2/3

Previous: 2.791M

Notes: The Continuing Jobless Claims released by the US Department of Labor measure the number of individuals who are unemployed and are currently receiving unemployment benefits. It presents the strength in the labor market. A rise in this indicator has negative implications for consumer spending which discourage economic growth. Generally speaking, a high reading is seen as negative, or bearish for the USD, while a low reading is seen as positive, or bullish.

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UK Retail Sales (YoY)

Location: United Kingdom

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 09:30

Strength: 3/3

Previous:

Notes: The retail Sales released by the National Statistics measures the total receipts of retail stores. Monthly percent changes reflect the rate of changes of such sales. Changes in Retail Sales are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. Generally speaking, a high reading is seen as positive, or bullish for the GBP, while a low reading is seen as negative or bearish.

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UK Retail Sales ex-Fuel (YoY)

Location: United Kingdom

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 09:30

Strength: 3/3

Previous:

Notes: The Retail Sales ex-fuel released by the National Statistics is a measure of changes in sales of the British retail sector excluding fuel. It shows the performance of the retail sector in the short term. Percent changes reflect the rate of changes of such sales. The changes are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. A high reading is seen as positive (or bullish) for the Pound, while a low reading is seen as negative (or bearish).

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UK Retail Sales (MoM)

Location: United Kingdom

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 09:30

Strength: 2/3

Previous:

Notes: The retail Sales released by the National Statistics measures the total receipts of retail stores. Monthly percent changes reflect the rate of changes of such sales. Changes in Retail Sales are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. Generally speaking, a high reading is seen as positive, or bullish for the GBP, while a low reading is seen as negative or bearish.

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UK Retail Sales ex-Fuel (MoM)

Location: United Kingdom

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 09:30

Strength: 2/3

Previous:

Notes: The Retail Sales ex-fuel released by the National Statistics is a measure of changes in sales of the British retail sector excluding fuel. It shows the performance of the retail sector in the short term. Percent changes reflect the rate of changes of such sales. The changes are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. A high reading is seen as positive (or bullish) for the Pound, while a low reading is seen as negative (or bearish).

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JP Leading Economic Index

Location: Japan

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 05:00

Strength: 2/3

Previous: 109.2

Notes: The Leading Economic Index released by the Cabinet Office is an economic indicator that consists of 12 indexes such as account inventory ratios, machinery orders, stock prices and other leading economic indicators. It shows the performance of the Japanese Economy over the short and mid-term. Generally speaking, a result above 50 is positive (or bullish) for the JPY, whereas a result below 50 is seen as bearish.

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JP Coincident Index

Location: Japan

Date: 19/12/2013

Time: 05:00

Strength: 2/3

Previous: 108.4

Notes: The Coincident Index released by the Cabinet Office is a single summary statistic that tracks the current state of the Japanese economy. A rise in the index indicates an expansion of economic activity and a decline in the index indicates a contraction in economic activity. Generally speaking, a result that values above 50% signals appreciates (or is bullish for) the JPY, whereas a result that values below 50% is seen as negative (or bearish).

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