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Importance ranking: #6

US ISM PMI

ISM Manufacturing / Services PMI

A survey asking company managers "How's business?" Above 50 signals growth; below 50 signals shrinking.

Japan time (JST, winter)0:00 (next day)
Japan time (JST, summer)23:00
Importance★★★
FrequencyOnce a month each
Release dateManufacturing: 1st business day of each month / Services: 3rd business day
Released byInstitute for Supply Management (ISM)

1A 30-second chat

JUDITH
JUDITHWhat does "50" mean?
JADE
JADEIt's the balance between companies that said "things got better" and those that said "things got worse." If they are exactly half and half, it's 50
JUDITH
JUDITHManufacturing or services: which matters more?
JADE
JADEServices make up most of the US economy, so non-manufacturing matters too. But manufacturing comes out first at the start of the month, so it tends to set the mood for the month

2Just check this

1

The overall index and the 50 line

Above 50 means growth, below means shrinking. Pay special attention when it crosses 50

2

New orders

The amount of future work. Shows where the economy is heading

3

Prices (prices paid)

Costs companies pay. A leading sign of inflation

3How does the market move?

The gap vs. forecast Fcst Consensus Data 0:00 release Stronger Market-moving Weaker Reverses As expected = small move
Price moves on the size of the gap vs. forecast, more than on whether the result is good or bad
▲ Stronger than expectedStrong economy → US rates ↑ → USD tends to rise (stocks may also be bought on growth hopes)
▼ Weaker than expectedWeak economy → US rates ↓ → USD tends to fall (stocks may also be sold on economic worries)

These are common patterns. Depending on the news at the time, price can move the other way.

Release moment Before: wait After: big swings Spreads widen Stops can slip too 0:00 release
The direction is different every time. Right after the release, price can swing either way.

4Prop firm watch-outs

It comes out at midnight Japan time (JST) (11pm in summer), so it often overlaps with late-night trading before bed. At the start of the month, big releases come one after another: manufacturing ISM, then ADP, then the US jobs report (NFP). Expect choppy moves in the first few days of the month and keep some room in your loss limit.

Daily loss line (50K account) Prior day end balance $50,000 Break this = fail $47,500 5% Max loss/day $2,500 (incl. unrealized) New day: 7am winter/6am summer
FUNDED7 rules:Holding trades through a release is allowed, but opening a new large position right before a release is a no-go (Official FAQ)
Daily loss line:5% of the previous day's closing balance. Unrealized losses count too (Official FAQ)
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Source: ISM Report On Business/ Release times shift with US daylight saving time. Dates may change due to holidays, etc.

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