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US dollar news and guides: page 4
Central bank decisions, economic data, gold and oil, and plain-English guides to how currency trading works. Every article links to its primary sources.
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How to trade breakouts without buying the false ones
Most breakouts fail, and the ones that succeed usually let you in on the retest. Here is how to separate real breaks from stop-hunts, where to place the stop, and how to size the trade.
How to trade Fibonacci retracements without hindsight
Fibonacci levels are everywhere on charts and nowhere near as precise as their fans claim. Here is what the retracement actually is, which levels matter, and how to trade it with the hindsight removed.
How to trade forex safely as a beginner: the first 90 days
The first ninety days decide whether a beginner becomes a trader or a cautionary tale. Here is a month-by-month plan that keeps the account alive while the skills form.
Why the US dollar moves the entire forex market
The dollar is one side of nearly every trade, the world's reserve currency and the pricing unit for commodities. Here is why its moves ripple through every pair, every market and every trading plan.
What happens to currencies when the Fed raises rates?
A Fed rate hike reprices the dollar against everything, but the move isn't always what the textbook says. Here is the transmission chain — expectations, yields, carry and risk — and what the September 2026 hike showed.
How to trade central bank decisions: the rate-day playbook
Rate decisions move currencies through the vote, the statement and the press conference — not just the rate itself. Here is how to read all four parts and trade the day with the risk controlled.
How to trade non-farm payrolls: an NFP playbook that respects the risk
Non-farm payrolls is the most scheduled-and-scripted volatility in forex. Here is what the report actually measures, why the details beat the headline, and how to trade the day with a plan instead of a guess.
How to trade CPI releases without getting run over
CPI mornings move every dollar pair at once, and the first move often lies. Here is how to read the report properly, what the market actually reacts to, and three ways to trade inflation day with the risk controlled.
How to build a forex trading plan that survives losing streaks
A trading plan is the difference between a system and a mood. Here is exactly what belongs in one, how to write it in an afternoon, and why the losing-streak test decides whether it is real.
How to trade gold (XAU/USD): drivers, strategies and risk
Gold moves in dollars per ounce, not pips, and its daily range dwarfs most currency pairs. Here is what actually drives the metal, how position sizing differs from forex, and how to trade it without getting shaken out.
How to trade USD/JPY: BoJ, carry and intervention risk
USD/JPY pays you for the rate gap and threatens you with intervention. Here is how the Bank of Japan, US yields and the threat of sudden yen-buying operations all fit into one trading plan.
How to trade GBP/USD (cable): what moves it and when
GBP/USD, nicknamed cable, is the most volatile of the major dollar pairs. Here is what drives it, how its session behaviour differs from EUR/USD, and how to build a plan around its moods.
How to trade EUR/USD: the complete beginner's guide
EUR/USD is the most traded currency pair in the world, with the tightest spreads and the deepest liquidity. Here is what moves it, when it moves, and how to build a trading plan around it.
How to trade the news: a step-by-step strategy guide
News moves currency pairs faster than anything else in the market. Here is how to trade news releases with a plan, not a prayer — including the releases that matter, the risks around the release minute, and three strategies that respect both.
US home builder confidence falls to 32 in September as mortgage rates and costs rise
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index dropped three points, and 38% of builders cut prices, up from 35% in August, the National Association of Home Builders said on 16 September.
New York factory activity slows in September as prices paid climb to 63.1
The Empire State Manufacturing Survey's general business conditions index fell 13 points to 7.6, the New York Fed said on 15 September, while input and selling prices rose faster.
US import prices rise 0.7% in August and are 7.0% higher than a year earlier
Nonfuel import prices climbed 0.8% while fuel prices slipped 0.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on 16 September. Export prices rose 0.6% after falling 1.4% in July.
US retail sales jump 1.2% in August after a fall in July
Update: after the Census Bureau's 28 September annual revision, August is $739.3 billion and up 1.3% on July. The advance figure published on 16 September was $773.9 billion.
Fed raises rates to 3.75%–4.00%, its first increase since July 2023, in a unanimous vote
The FOMC lifted the federal funds target range by a quarter point on 16 September. Officials' median projection now puts the rate at 4.1% at the end of 2026, up from 3.8% in June.
IEA expects world oil demand to fall 2.5 million barrels a day in 2026 as Gulf exports stay near half their pre-war level
The International Energy Agency's September report says global inventories fell by a further 95 million barrels in August, taking draws since February to 507 million barrels.
New York Fed survey: US consumers' inflation expectations steady at 3.6% as job worries reach the highest since 2020
One-year inflation expectations were unchanged in August and three-year expectations slipped to 3.2%, but the expected chance of higher unemployment rose to 44.4%.
US consumer sentiment falls to 47.8 as year-ahead inflation expectations jump to 4.6%
The University of Michigan's preliminary September 2026 index fell to 47.8 from 51.7, and consumers' year-ahead inflation expectations rose to 4.6% from 4.0%.
US services activity accelerates as new orders jump, but the employment index stays below 50
The ISM Services PMI rose to 55.4 in August 2026 from 54.1, with business activity at 61.7 and new orders at 60.9, while employment stayed in contraction at 47.8.
US trade deficit widens to $88.6 billion in July as computer imports surge
The goods and services deficit rose $17.4 billion in July 2026, with exports down 2.1% and imports up 2.8%, though the year-to-date gap is 29.6% smaller than in 2025.
US factory activity expands for an eighth month, but new orders slow
The ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 54.6 in August 2026 from 55.6, with new orders down three points and the prices index unchanged at 71.1.
US job openings little changed at 7.3 million in July as hiring stays subdued
The BLS JOLTS report showed 7.3 million job openings in July 2026, with June revised down by 177,000, while quits held at 3.1 million.
The Fed's preferred inflation gauge: PCE prices up 3.7% in the year to July
The PCE price index rose 0.2% in July 2026 and 3.7% from a year earlier, with core PCE up 3.3%, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said on 26 August.
Fed decision on 16 September: what currency traders are watching
Update: the FOMC raised the target range by a quarter point to 3.75%–4.00% on 16 September, in a 12–0 vote. This preview sets out what currency traders were watching beforehand.
US inflation rises to 3.4% in August as gasoline prices jump
Consumer prices rose 0.4% in August and 3.4% from a year earlier. Core inflation, which strips out food and energy, was 2.4%.
Bank of Japan meets on 17–18 September after holding at 1% in July
Update: on 18 September the Bank of Japan raised its policy rate from 1.00% to 1.25% on a 7–2 vote. This preview sets out what traders were watching beforehand.
Brent crude trades above $100 as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz dwindles
Brent has held above $100 a barrel since 3 September. Tanker traffic through Hormuz has fallen sharply amid US–Iran strikes, and Houthi forces have seized a Red Sea port.
Gold holds near $4,300, well below January's record of $5,589
The metal trades more than 20% below its all-time high as higher interest rates in several economies compete with demand for safe assets.
US producer prices rise 0.4% in August, led by a surge in diesel
Final demand prices were 5.4% higher than a year earlier. Goods prices rose 1.1% on the month, with diesel fuel up by more than 24%.
US employers added 162,000 jobs in August as earlier months were revised lower
The unemployment rate was 4.1% and average hourly earnings rose 3.1% over the year, but June and July payroll gains were revised down to 31,000 and 21,000.
Japan and the US confirm a rare joint intervention to support the yen
Japan's Ministry of Finance bought yen on 31 July in coordination with the US Treasury, Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki said on 3 August, adding that Japan stands ready to act again.
What is a pip? How to calculate pip value, with examples
A pip is the smallest standard price step in a currency pair. Here is how pips, pipettes and pip values work on EUR/USD, USD/JPY, crosses and gold.
Lot sizes explained: standard, mini and micro lots
A lot sets how many units of currency you buy or sell. Getting it wrong is the fastest way to turn a small price move into a large loss.
Leverage and margin explained: margin calls, stop-outs and how losses grow
Leverage lets you control a large position with a small deposit. It magnifies losses exactly as much as gains, and it is behind most blown trading accounts.
The real cost of a forex trade: spread, commission and swap
Every trade has costs, and they are easy to underestimate. Here is how to add up the spread, commission and overnight swap on a position.
Forex market hours: the Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York sessions
Currencies trade around the clock on weekdays, but not with the same liquidity. Session times in UTC, the overlaps that matter and the daylight-saving trap.
