Skip to content

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Central banks preview: Fed, BoE, BoJ, RBA

FX traders brace for four central bank meetings. The Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday, then on Wednesday it’s the turn of the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England on Thursday.

Video poster image

IG financial analyst @AngelineOng looks at what’s expected and why the BOJ decision is perhaps the most interesting monetary policy event this week.

(AI Video Summary)

Central Bank meetings

This week, there are four important central bank meetings happening that will have a big impact on Forex trading. On Tuesday, the Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will have their meetings, followed by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, and the Bank of England on Thursday. These meetings are very important because the decisions made by these central banks can affect the value of different currencies.

The Bank of Japan

Let's start with the Bank of Japan. They have recently increased wages, which is a good thing for the economy. However, there are concerns that this might lead to higher inflation, so the bank might need to make some changes to their monetary policy to control it. People are watching closely to see if they will raise interest rates from their current negative level.

The Reserve Bank of Australia

Next, we have the Reserve Bank of Australia. They are expected to keep their interest rates the same, but economists believe that they might make some cuts in the coming months. This is different from other central banks, so it's a bit surprising that the Australian dollar isn't getting stronger against the New Zealand dollar.

Moving on to the Federal Reserve, they will most likely keep interest rates steady for now. However, some recent economic data has been better than expected, which might make them reconsider. They will base their decisions on how the data looks in the coming months.

The Bank of England

Lastly, we have the Bank of England. They are not expected to make any changes right now, but there is speculation that they might cut interest rates later in the year. They are worried about wages increasing faster than prices, which could lead to inflation.

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

Start trading forex today

Find opportunity on the world’s most-traded – and most-volatile – financial market.

  • Trade spreads from just 0.6 points on EUR/USD
  • Analyse with clear, fast charts
  • Speculate wherever you are with our intuitive mobile apps

See an FX opportunity?

Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re onto something.

  • Log in to your demo
  • Take your position
  • See whether your hunch pays off

See an FX opportunity?

Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.

  • Get spreads from just 0.6 points on popular pairs
  • Analyse and deal seamlessly on fast, intuitive charts
  • See and react to breaking news in-platform

See an FX opportunity?

Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take your position.

Live prices on most popular markets

  • Equities
  • Indices
  • Forex
  • Commodities


Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All share prices are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.

Plan your trading week

Get the week’s market-moving news sent directly to your inbox every Sunday. The Week Ahead gives you a full calendar of upcoming economic events, as well as commentary from our expert analysts on the key markets to watch.


For more info on how we might use your data, see our privacy notice and access policy and privacy webpage.

You might be interested in…

Find out what charges your trades could incur with our transparent fee structure.

Discover why so many clients choose us, and what makes us a world-leading provider of spread betting and CFDs.

Stay on top of upcoming market-moving events with our customisable economic calendar.