Top 10 2015: Educational Articles and Economic Events

We continue with our Top 10 of 2015, today with the most read Educational Articles (check them out if you haven’t read them!) and most checked events of our Economic Calendar.

EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES

1. 1. Lessons from the Pros by Sam Seiden, Online Trading Academy – Lessons From the Pros is Online Trading Academy’s e-Newsletter that contains trading lessons and real-world examples of simple, rule-based strategies in action.
2. 2. Making money in Forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade! by Bradley Gilbert, CTA, Traders4Traders – Brad helps you understand how the traders at the banks execute and make their trading decisions.
3. 3. Lessons from the Pros – Forex by Sam Evans and Rick Wright, Online Trading Academy – These reports focused on Forex are part of Lessons from the Pros’ newsletter and provide a complete look across multiple Forex trading issues.
4. 4. Your Daily educational tip by FXStreet Team  – Useful tips intended to helps newbie traders in their first steps in the forex markets.
5. 5. How to trade non farm payrolls by Wayne McDonell, Kenny Fisher, Adrián Aquaro, XGlobal Markets, Viktor Eperjesy and Jordi Martínez  –  A serie of articles from our contributors that help us explaining the importance and impact of the US Non Farm Payrolls on Forex trading. These articles include their valuable insights and tips to trade before and after the event.
6. 6. Fundamental Forex Strategies by Alex Nekritin, TradersChoiceFX – Alex Nekritin shares his strategies about how to trade different currencies during specific economic events.
7. 7. The Traders Podcast by Rob Booker – A daily podcast released by Rob Booker where he shares his charismatic and personal style of trading for a living.
8. 8. Forex Essentials Course by John Jagerson and S. Wade Hansen, LearningMarkets.com –  A complete course of 21 lessons that includes the basic knowledge to start trading in Forex.
9. 9. Trading Lessons by Jarratt Davis – Series of educational videos presented by Jarrat Davis that helps you improve your trading through useful tips and lessons
10. 10. Lessons from the Pros – Specialty Skills by Dr. Woody Johnson, Online Trading Academy – Dr. Johnson shares on a weekly basis his research about psychology in trading and talks about these specialty skills that every trader must develop to improve their perfomance.

ECONOMIC DATA

1. 1. US Non-Farm Payrolls: The US monthly employment data remains the top market mover. The market uses it as a barometer of the local economic health, while it’s also one of the two legs in which the US Federal Reserve stands to take decisions.
2. 2. Fed Interest Rate: The US Central Bank economic policy decision has been in the eye of the storm in 2015, as the FED has been the first in returning to normal, finally rising its main benchmark in December. Still on the tightening path, the Federal Reserve is expected to deliver at least  3 more rate hikes during 2016.
3. 3. ECB President Draghi’s Speech: Deflationary pressures  finally took their toll over Europe, forcing ECB’s President, Mario Draghi, into QE. The announcement of the measures, but above all the continued jawboning on the matter, have kept investors on their toes and will likely extend into the new year.
4. 4. BOE’s Governor Carney speech: Carney shocked the financial world by announcing that a rate hike was “closer than expected” in the UK during the second half of 2015, catching investors’ attention. Soft macroeconomic data in the kingdom, however, disappointed those that run to price in a rate hike. Chances have diminished strongly, although speeches will continue to be closely watched.
5. 5. China Caixin Manufacturing PMI: China’s economic slowdown has been one of the biggest market movers during 2015, weighing on commodities’ prices and adding to worldwide depressed inflation figures. Manufacturing has been contracting monthly basis for already ten months, and the trend is nowhere near reversing.
6. 6. ECB interest rate decision: The European Central Bank has maintained rates at record lows one more year, yet the Central Bank meeting remains among the most followed by market’s players, as it’s usually followed by a speech from Mario Draghi.
7. 7. EIA crude oil stocks change: Crude oil prices have plummeted during 2015, affecting the economic developments of all the major economies, as cheaper prices have affected already low inflationary developments. The sharp decline in prices has been mostly due to a worldwide glut that continues growing. With the commodity entering 2016 at multi-year lows,  it will likely retain market’s attention.
8. 8. FOMC Minutes: FOMC Minutes explain the whys and hows of any US Federal Reserve decision, and usually offer clues on upcoming moves, with the market watching every single change in the wording to price in future announcements.
9. 9. RBA interest rate: The Reserve Bank of Australia has been cutting rates during the whole 2015, losing the early hawkish tone on increasing concerns over Chinese economic slowdown. Governor Stevens has made a pause in rate cuts, but a small possibility of further easing persists into 2016.
10. 10. BOE interest rate: The Bank of England has kept its economic policy unchanged for one more year, and will likely remain on-hold during 2016, being among the less interesting Central Banks, at least during the first half of the year.