Building a Pre-Market News Routine

A simple pre-market news routine can help traders start the day with a clear sense of what's scheduled, what's already happened overnight, and where potential volatility might arise.

Rather than reacting to headlines throughout the day, many traders find it useful to set aside a short period each morning to review the economic calendar and scan major news sources for anything that occurred while markets were closed or in other time zones.

• Check the day's economic calendar for scheduled releases, noting the time and impact rating of anything relevant to instruments you follow.
• Review overnight moves in major markets, since developments in one region can carry over into others once they open.
• Scan for any unscheduled headlines — geopolitical, corporate, or otherwise — that may have emerged since the prior session.
• Note any central bank speakers or other scheduled commentary for the day ahead.