How Forex Traders Use ISM Data

March 3, 2019

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The ISM manufacturing index plays an important role in forex trading, with ISM data influencing currency prices globally. As a result, the ISM manufacturing, construction and services indicators can provide unique opportunities for forex traders, which makes understanding this data (and how to prepare for its monthly release) essential.

Talking points:

What is ISM?
How ISM impacts currencies
How forex traders use ISM data

What is ISM?

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) measures the economic activity from both the manufacturing side as well as the service side. Monthly ISM data releases include key information such as changes in production levels.

ISM was formed in 1915 and is the first management institute in the world with members in 300 countries. The data gleaned from its large membership of purchasing managers means ISM is a reliable guide to global economic activity, and as a result, currency prices. A country’s economy is often determined by its supply chain, as a result, the monthly ISM manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI economic news releases are carefully watched by forex traders around the world.

ISM Surveys

ISM publishes three surveys – manufacturing, construction, and services – on the first business day of every month. The ISM Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is compiled from surveys of 400 manufacturing purchasing managers. These purchasing managers from different sectors represent five different fields:

Inventories
Employment
Speed of supplier deliveries
Production level
New orders from customers.

In addition, ISM construction PMI is released on the second business day of the month, followed by services on the third business day. Forex traders will look to these releases to determine the risks at any given time in the market.

How does ISM Impact currencies?

The Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing PMIs are big market movers. When these reports are released at 10:30am ET, currencies can become very volatile. Since these economic releases are based on the previous month’s historical data gathered directly from industry professionals, forex traders can determine if the US economy is expanding or contracting – much like non-farm payrolls (NFP) data.

Currencies react with this information as it represents a gauge of US economic health (see image below).

Source: Institute for Supply Management

How forex traders use ISM data

Forex traders will compare the previous month’s ISM data figure with the forecasted number that economists have published. If the released PMI number is better than the previous number and higher than the forecasted number, the US dollar tends to rally. This is where fundamental and technical analysis comes together to create a trade setup.

EUR/USD drops as a result of better than expected data

In the example above, notice how the better than expected PMI number triggered a US dollar rally against the Euro. As seen in the chart (EUR/USD – one hour), the ISM Manufacturing PMI came in higher than the previous month at 54.9.

When an economic releases beats expectation, sharp fast moves can ensue. In this case, EUR/USD dropped 150 pips in a few hours. Traders often choose the Euro as the “anti-dollar” to take advantage of capital flows between two of the largest economies.

Read more on using pips in forex trading.

The Eurozone has large liquid capital markets which can absorb the huge waves of capital seeking refuge from the US. A weak US ISM Non-Manufacturing number usually leads to a dollar sell-off and a rise in the Euro. Another scenario is when the number released is in line with forecasts and/or unchanged from the previous month, then the US dollar may not react at all to the number.

Overall, an ISM PMI number above 50 indicates that the economy is expanding and is healthy. However, a number below 50 indicates that the economy is weak and contracting. This number is so important that if the PMI is below 50 for two consecutive months, an economy is considered in recession.

PMIs are also compiled for Euro zone countries by the Markit Group while US regional and national PMIs are compiled by ISM. As you can see, traders have good reason to pay special attention to the important releases from the ISM manufacturing index.