High Impact News: 28th April - 2nd May 2025

Weekly High Impact News Preview

As we move into the final days of April and step into May, traders should brace for a packed schedule of key economic releases and central bank updates, many of which could inject volatility into global markets.

Inflation, Growth, and Central Bank Focus:

Wednesday kicks off a wave of high-impact data, starting with Australia's inflation readings (CPI and Trimmed Mean CPI) alongside China’s NBS and Caixin Manufacturing PMIs. Given the recent nervousness around global growth, any surprises here could ripple through commodities and equities, especially with Australia and China serving as key barometers of Asia-Pacific health.

Eurozone traders will want to stay sharp too, with a heavy release of Q1 GDP figures alongside March Retail Sales and preliminary CPI prints. Inflation remains the central focus for the ECB, and with rate-cut expectations shifting almost weekly, these numbers could be crucial for setting the tone for the euro and European indices.

Meanwhile, in the US, Wednesday also brings the Core PCE Price Index, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, alongside an advance look at Q1 GDP growth. With the Fed maintaining a cautious stance on rate cuts, this data could play a major role in shaping market sentiment heading into May.

Central Banks in the Spotlight:

On Thursday, the Bank of Japan delivers its latest interest rate decision and monetary policy outlook. After recently tweaking its ultra-loose policy, traders will be closely watching for any further moves, or hints at future adjustments, that could shake up JPY pairs.

The week also sees fresh PMI figures from the US via the ISM Manufacturing report, offering another real-time snapshot of economic activity.

Capping Off the Week:

Friday rounds out the week with another crucial batch of inflation and labor data. Eurozone CPI numbers will be released during the European session, followed by the always market-moving US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report and Average Hourly Earnings data later in the day. With recession fears and rate cut expectations in the background, Friday’s results could lead to sharp moves across currencies, equities, and bond yields.