- Social Hub
- Offering
- Resources
- Education
- Company
- Home
- Markets Updates
- Top Economic Events to Watch | May 5 - 9, 2025
What’s up traders! This week isn’t your average stroll through the markets. It’s central bank season meets global trade pulse, and if you’re not paying attention, you’re gonna miss some serious price action.
Whether you’re riding trends, fading the noise, or still figuring out your edge—these 3 events could make or break positions across FX, stocks, crypto, and commodities. Let’s break it all down.
FOMC Interest Rate Decision – May 7
AKA: When Jerome Powell Moves the World
🧠 What It Is:
The Federal Reserve (FOMC) decides whether to raise, cut, or hold interest rates. It also gives a forward-looking statement and hosts a live press conference—which can be even more impactful than the rate change itself.
🌍 Why It Matters:
The Fed controls the cost of money in the biggest economy on Earth.
Higher rates = stronger dollar, weaker stocks/crypto.
Lower rates = more risk-on, money flows into assets.
Even when they don’t move rates, their tone (hawkish/dovish) can shock the market.
📈 What Gets Rocked:
Forex: USD pairs (EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD) go wild on release.
Stocks: S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow futures all react fast.
Crypto: BTC and ETH often drop when the Fed sounds hawkish.
Bonds: 2Y and 10Y yields spike on surprises.
🎯 Pro Trader Tip:
Don't just react to the rate number—listen to the language in the press conference. Are they saying inflation is "persistent"? Are they hinting at more hikes? That’s your edge.
Bank of England Rate Decision – May 8
AKA: The GBP Rollercoaster Begins
🧠 What It Is:
The BoE decides whether to move interest rates. But they also release the Monetary Policy Summary and publish how the voting split went among members (sometimes it's 7-2, sometimes 5-4—big difference in how markets interpret that!).
🌍 Why It Matters:
The UK is juggling inflation and stagnation—not a fun combo.
The BoE’s decision sets the tone for GBP strength or weakness.
Surprises here can spill over into European markets and influence global risk appetite.
📈 What Gets Rocked:
Forex: GBP/USD, EUR/GBP, GBP/JPY.
Equities: FTSE 100 and major UK bank stocks.
Bonds: UK gilts and yields across Europe.
Commodities: Gold tends to move as a hedge when central bank expectations shift.
🎯 Pro Trader Tip:
If the BoE sounds cautious despite high inflation, markets may see that as a sign that they’re done tightening—and the pound could drop hard. Watch for the “vote split” in the statement for clues.
China Trade Balance – May 8
AKA: The Global Growth Thermometer
🧠 What It Is:
This report shows how much China is exporting vs. importing. It’s not just about China—it’s a pulse check on global demand and supply chains.
🌍 Why It Matters:
China is the world’s factory. Weak exports = slowing global demand.
Sharp drops in imports = internal slowdown (bad sign for global growth).
The trade balance affects everything from iron ore to Aussie dollars.
📈 What Gets Rocked:
Commodities: Crude oil, copper, iron ore all respond fast.
Forex: AUD/USD and NZD/USD are super sensitive to this.
EM FX: Asian currencies like SGD, MYR, and IDR often shift.
Chinese Yuan: Watch USD/CNH for risk sentiment clues.
🎯 Pro Trader Tip:
Don’t just look at the headline surplus/deficit. Dig into the export destinations and key commodities—they tell the story about which sectors and regions are heating up or cooling off.
🚀 Final Word: Be Ready, Not Reactive
This is one of those "watch your risk and read the narrative" weeks.
📍 Don’t trade blind.
📍 Don’t fight the tape.
📍 Don’t underestimate how one sentence from Powell or Bailey can flip the market.
Keep your eyes on the data, your stops tight, and your head cool.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Any news, opinions, research, analyses, prices or other information contained in this article are provided as general market commentary and do not constitute investment advice. The market commentary has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and therefore, it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of dissemination. Past performance is not an indication of possible future performance. Any action you take upon the information in this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of this article.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Related articles
NAGA Weekly Recap May 19 - 23, 2025
23 May 2025
This week’s market recap: Gold gains, Yen strengthens, Silver benefits from Dollar weakness, and the Aussie dips after a rate cut. Explore key market moves, recession risks, and rising currency volatility in May 2025.
Read more
Gladys Eguia
Need Help? Visit our Help Section
Download NAGA Trader
Markets
Platforms
Pricing & Terms
Company
Documentation
Help & Support
Social Hub
Free Education
News & Analysis
Download NAGA Trader
Copyright © 2024 – All rights reserved.
NAGA is a trademark of The NAGA Group AG, a German based FinTech company publicly listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange | WKN: A161NR | ISIN: DE000A161NR7.
The website is operated by NAGA Markets Europe LTD which is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under licence No. 204/13. The registered address of NAGA Markets Europe LTD is Agias Zonis 11, Limassol 3027, Cyprus. NAGA Markets Europe LTD is also registered with the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (“ASF”) with registration no. PJM01SFIM/400019.
Previous Domain: www.nagamarkets.com.
RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.08% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Trading with NAGA Trader by following and/or copying or replicating the trades of other traders involves high levels of risks, even when following and/or copying or replicating the top-performing traders. Such risks include the risk that you may be following/copying the trading decisions of possibly inexperienced/unprofessional traders, or traders whose ultimate purpose or intention, or financial status may differ from yours. Before making an investment decision, you should rely on your own assessment of the person making the trading decisions and the terms of all the legal documentation.
Other group entities: JME Financial Services (Pty) Ltd operates naga.com/za an authorised Financial Services Provider and is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa under license no. 37166.
Key Way Markets Ltd operates naga.com/ae and is authorized and regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (license no. 190005).
KW Investments Ltd operates capex.com/en and is authorized and regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) (license no. SD020).
Restricted regions: NAGA Markets Europe LTD offers services to residents within the European Economic Area, excluding Belgium. NAGA Markets Europe LTD does not provide investment and ancillary services in the territories of third countries.
Affiliate programs are not permitted in Spain for the investment service commercialisation or client acquisitions by unauthorised third parties.
Los programas de afiliados no están permitidos en España para la comercialización de servicios de inversión y captación de clientes por parte de terceros no autorizados.
RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80.85% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.