NFP Trading
NFP trading is one of the most consistent forms of news trading in the forex market. The Non-Farm Payroll Report is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the first Friday of every month and influences the value of the dollar against other currencies, providing NFP traders with regular rate swings. Read on to find out what NFP trading is, how it works and how to get started, before discussing some tips to avoid falling victim to irrational market movers.
Top NFP Trading Brokers
#1 - Forex.com
Forex.com is a leading FX broker. Offering a large range of currency pairs and some of the tightest spreads in the industry.
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.0 Var
- EURUSD Spread: 0.8 Var
- EURGBP Spread: 0.8 Var
- Total Assets: 80+
- Leverage: 1:200
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
CFD Trading
Go long and short on a range of popular financial markets with low fees.
Stocks Trading
Forex.com offer access to thousands of US, EU and UK stocks, with spreads of just 1 point. See why Forex.com are about more than just forex...
Crypto Trading
Trade the major cryptos against USD, EUR, GBP and AUD. All traded with tight spreads. No virtual wallet required, just a trading account. Note, cryptos are not available in the US, UK or Canada.
About Forex.com
Forex.com boast a global reputation. Regulated in the UK, EU, US and Canada they offer a huge range of markets, not just forex, and offer tight spreads on a cutting edge platform.
Pros
- Highly rated
- Strong regulatory oversight
- MT4 integration
Cons
- No copy trading
#2 - NinjaTrader
Trade currencies, including pairs with the USD
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.6 pips
- EURUSD Spread: 1.3 pips
- EURGBP Spread: 1.6 pips
- Total Assets: 50+
- Leverage:
- Platforms: Own
Stocks Trading
Take positions on large public companies and household names.
Crypto Trading
Trade micro Bitcoin with low fees
About NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader offer investors futures and forex trading. Use auto-trade algorithmic strategies and configure your own platform while trading with the lowest costs.
#3 - OANDA
Take positions on major, minor and exotic currency pairs with competitive trading conditions.
- GBPUSD Spread: 3.4
- EURUSD Spread: 1.6
- EURGBP Spread: 1.7
- Total Assets: 70
- Leverage: 1:30 EU, 1:200 Global
- Platforms: MT4
Stocks Trading
Speculate on major stocks and indices via leveraged CFDs.
Crypto Trading
Speculate on the world's biggest cryptos by market cap
About OANDA
OANDA offers 70 forex pairs with two competitive pricing models and a substantial welcome deposit bonus
#4 - Webull
Webull offers FX trading with tight floating spreads
- GBPUSD Spread: Variable
- EURUSD Spread: Variable
- EURGBP Spread: Variable
- Total Assets: 17
- Leverage:
- Platforms: Own
Stocks Trading
Webull offers trading on 2,000 US stocks and shares via a powerful mobile app.
Crypto Trading
Webull offers trading on popular cryptos such as Bitcoin against the US Dollar.
About Webull
Webull offers a popular online stock trading app with low fees and generous bonuses.
#5 - IG Group
Trade a range of major, minor and exotic currencies
- GBPUSD Spread: from 0.589 pips
- EURUSD Spread: from 0.165 pips
- EURGBP Spread: from 0.540 pips
- Total Assets: 90+
- Leverage: 1:30
- Platforms: MT4
CFD Trading
Trade leveraged CFDs on a variety of assets including stocks, commodities and forex
Stocks Trading
LSE-listed IG Group offers stock trading via CFDs, spread betting (in the UK) and digital 100s. Margin requirements vary.
Crypto Trading
Trade four major cryptocurrencies paired with USD
About IG Group
IG-US offer spread betting, CFD and Forex trading across a range of markets. They are FCA regulated, boast a great trading app and have over 47 year track record of excellence.
#6 - Videforex
Videforex offers leveraged trading on major, minor and exotic currency pairs.
- GBPUSD Spread: Floating from 0.1 pips
- EURUSD Spread: Floating from 0.1 pips
- EURGBP Spread: Floating from 0.1 pips
- Total Assets: 35
- Leverage: 1:500
- Platforms: Own
CFD Trading
A suite of CFDs are available across popular markets with high leverage.
Stocks Trading
Videforex offers trading on major exchanges such as the FTSE.
Crypto Trading
Start trading on cryptos against fiat currencies and other alt coins.
About Videforex
Videforex accepts deposits in a range of cryptos and fiat currencies. Payouts reach 98% per trade.
Pros
- Demo account
- Copy trading
- Full range of investments
Cons
- No MT4 integration
- Weak regulatory oversight
#7 - CloseOption
Trade binaries on popular currency pairs including EUR/USD.
- GBPUSD Spread: No fee - payouts approx. 75% (Copper)
- EURUSD Spread: No fee - payouts approx. 76% (Copper)
- EURGBP Spread: No fee - payouts approx. 75% (Copper)
- Total Assets: 20+
- Leverage:
- Platforms: Own
Crypto Trading
Trade high/low binaries on major crypto-fiat currency pairs.
About CloseOption
CloseOption is a popular binary options broker with high payouts and joining bonuses.
Pros
- Multiple payment methods
- Demo account
- Low minimum deposit
Cons
- Narrow range of investments
- Weak regulatory oversight
- No MT4 integration
#8 - Just2Trade
Speculate on key currency pairings, including with the USD
- GBPUSD Spread: From 0.0
- EURUSD Spread: From 0.0
- EURGBP Spread: From 0.0
- Total Assets: 50+
- Leverage: 1:5 to 1:20
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
CFD Trading
Leveraged CFD trading is available on major financial markets
Stocks Trading
A wide array of equities spanning multiple industries
Crypto Trading
Cryptocurrency trading is only available to clients from Asia
About Just2Trade
Just2Trade offer high-tech trading on stocks and options with some of the lowest prices in the industry.
#9 - Sage FX
Sage FX offers trading on major and cross currency pairs.
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.9
- EURUSD Spread: 0.9
- EURGBP Spread: 2.5
- Total Assets: 28
- Leverage: 1:500
- Platforms: MT4
CFD Trading
SageFX offers retail trading on financial markets with competitive spreads.
Stocks Trading
Sage FX offers retail trading on major stock indices from around the world.
Crypto Trading
Sage FX offers leveraged trading on crypto and USD pairs.
About Sage FX
Sage FX is an MT4 trading broker offering high leverage rates and secure mobile investing.
#10 - Kwakol Markets
Trade forex with ECN executions and tight spreads.
- GBPUSD Spread: From 0.8 pips (Standard Account)
- EURUSD Spread: From 0.8 pips (Standard Account)
- EURGBP Spread: From 0.8 pips (Standard Account)
- Total Assets: 100
- Leverage: 1:1000
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
CFD Trading
Trade CFDs with high leverage and spreads from 0.0 pips on premium accounts.
Stocks Trading
Trade stocks with zero commissions and ultra-fast trade executions.
Crypto Trading
Trade cryptos against fiat currencies, other cryptocurrencies and metals like gold.
About Kwakol Markets
Kwakol offers trading on the MT4 & MT5 platforms with high leverage & copy trading.
What Is The NFP?
The Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) represents the earnings of 80% of the workforce in the United States and is published by the BLS on the first Friday of every month at 08:30 EST. It is used by economic analysts and investors as an indicator of where the U.S. economy may be heading. It is generally considered that the economy is growing when NFP numbers are rising and contracting when they are falling.
The definition of NFP trading is to trade financial instruments based on this news to attempt to profit from the impact of this report.
How Does NFP Trading Work?
NFP trading is possible as this news release almost guarantees a tradable market move. Although the report has a knock-on effect on almost every currency, the most popular pair among traders is GBP/USD. If the NFP numbers are below economist estimates, investors will predict a weakening dollar and sell the currency. If employment levels and wages are high, this indicates a strengthening economy and investors will buy the dollar. The release of the NFP also affects the price of gold, especially when trading against the USD.
Finding A Broker To Trade The NFP
To start trading the NFP report, you will need to find a broker that offers comprehensive forex trading options. A full guide to comparing and choosing brokers can be found here, though we discuss some key aspects below:
- Fees: Ideally, look for a forex broker with zero sign-up fees and flexible minimum account balances. Some brokers will charge commissions but it is more common for forex brokers to make their money through spreads. Depending on your NFP trading strategy, either commission or spread-based charges may suit you better.
- Features: NFP trading is highly technical, so you will want a broker that offers comprehensive analysis features. Candlestick and bar charts are at the core of most NFP trading strategies, so look out for these. You will also want an intuitive, user-friendly platform with easy access to 5- and 15-minute time frames. A wide range of signals and indicators, as well as stop loss and take profit orders, will aid your NFP trading strategy. Because the report releases require you to act quickly, you should only trade the NFP from an app or platform if you are very comfortable with using it.
- Markets & Currencies: You will likely want to find a broker that offers a range of currencies paired with the US dollar. As the forex market is open 24/5, NFP trading is possible for traders around the globe. Make sure to find a broker that offers trading in your preferred currency to avoid conversion fees.
- Customer Support: The NFP report causes immediate volatility and large swings can occur in short periods. If you encounter a technical fault or glitch, you will want to have a customer support advisor on hand to guide you through your problem. The best brokers will offer 24-hour customer support via telephone, email or live chat.
- Educational Features: If you are new to trading the NFP, look for a broker with clear tutorials on this report and how to profit from it. Otherwise, there are many free resources analysing previous releases and making predictions, like informational PDFs and the NFP trading section in Tradingview. You can even watch other traders do NFP live trading sessions.
NFP Trading Hours
The NFP is released on the first Friday of each month at 08:30 EST (GMT-5). The forex market is open 24 hours a day during weekdays and, in particular, the New York session starts at 08:00 EST. This means that traders can start opening positions immediately after the release, which leads to short-term instability. The overall effects of the NFP release usually last around four to five hours. However, keep in mind that the market closes at 16:00 EST on Fridays for the weekend close, so your trades will need to be closed by then to avoid overnight holding fees.
The week of the NFP release is usually calm with very small price changes, as traders are waiting for the release. Trading during the NFP week could be profitable if you are a day trader interested in small price variations or if you are a news trader and other news strongly impacts the dollar.
Strategies For NFP Trading
NFP trading has the potential to be profitable but it requires a disciplined strategy and a cool head. Speculating on the USD upon the NFP release can be risky as the amount of attention this report attracts often causes dramatic swings.
It is common for investors to watch 5 and 15 minute candlestick charts when NFP trading. Below are two possible strategies that you can use for forex and gold.
Trading The NFP With Pending Orders
Setting two pending orders before and after the price at release can ensure you catch the price movement automatically, though there is the risk of whipsaws (spikes) crossing one price level before reversing for the main trend. Here is a step by step guide of how to carry out NFP trading with pending orders:
- Open your chart in 5-minute timeframes about 30 to 45 minutes before the report is released and find the highest high and the lowest low in the three to four hours prior to the release.
- Place two pending orders and stop-loss pairs: a buy stop, located 5-10 pips above the highest high with a stop loss 5-10 pips below the lowest low, and vice versa – a sell stop below the lowest low with a stop loss above the highest high. The first pending order will open a long position if the market is on the rise and the second will open a short position if the price is decreasing. The stop losses will reduce your risk if the trends get reversed.
- When the report is released, one of your pending orders should be activated. Cancel the other one immediately.
- Monitor your position; the stop loss will avoid big losses in case of a trend reversal but it is more likely that the trend will be maintained.
- Before the report’s release, decide on a profit goal and stick to it. You could close your position when your profit doubles your risk range (the range between your two pending orders) or you could use trailing stops.
The biggest risk of this NFP trading strategy is the possibility of whipsaws. In more volatile markets, or if the two pending orders are too close, a spike might trigger both pending orders and both stop losses, which means that you will have a double loss within seconds. Use this strategy on stable currencies and choose your pending orders carefully.
Following The NFP Trend
This NFP trading strategy is based on waiting until volatility subsides in your chosen currency pair and jumping on the resulting trend as early as possible. Here is how to trade the NFP trend:
- Open your chart in 15-minute timeframes before the release.
- Immediately after the release, there will be a short period of instability. It is important not to open a position during the first bar.
- The first few bars will likely be very tall. Look for a bar that is inside the previous bar. This first inside bar determines the high and low trade triggers.
- The bar following this first inside bar dictates which position you should open. If it closes higher than the high trade trigger, open a long position, otherwise open a short position.
- Place a stop loss 20 to 40 pips away from your entry price to manage your risk.
- If your trade gets closed by the stop loss, you can re-enter by using the original inside bar. Only re-enter once to carefully minimize your losses.
- Decide on a profit target. This could be by setting up trailing stops, setting up a price target or a time limit.
The major risk to this NFP trading strategy is missing out on the trend. Sometimes there may not be a strong trend or the trend is already fading when the first inside bar appears.
Final Word On NFP Trading
The NFP report is a monthly release by the US government that strongly influences the price of the US Dollar, gold and other currencies. NFP trading can be very profitable but you must have a clear strategy and keep a cool head. For those interested in getting involved with the monthly speculation wave, check out our broker selection guidance and strategies above.
FAQs
What Is NFP Trading?
The Non-Farm Payroll is a report released each month that represents the earnings of all workers that do not work in farms, private households, government or certain nonprofit organisations. It is an indicator of the strength of the dollar and its release almost guarantees a tradable market move. When the NFP number is higher than expected, investors will buy the dollar and when it drops, the dollar will be sold.
What Time Is The NFP Released?
The NFP is released on the first Friday of each month at 08:30 EST (13:30 GMT). NFP trading usually occurs over the four hours after the release.
What Strategies Are There For NFP Trading?
There are two main NFP trading strategies. You can trade the NFP report with pending orders, setting up two signals above and below the price to catch the move in either direction, or you can wait until the initial instability passes and jump on the trend. See our article above for more details.
Is Trading The NFP Report A Good Idea?
NFP trading has the potential to be very profitable, though robust risk management is vital and it is important to understand that things may not always go your way. Those experienced with day trading and news trading are often well suited to NFP trading.
What Broker Should I Use To Trade The NFP?
The best broker for you will depend on a variety of factors but, to smoothly trade the NFP, look for a broker that offers comprehensive technical features with a user-friendly platform, fast execution speeds and low costs.
Should I Trade During The NFP Week?
The weekdays before the NFP release happens often see very small price movements, so the volatility may not be there for many day traders and investors. However, if you are interested in small price variations or are a news trader and there are other releases that week, you may be fine.