Press conferences: the real move often starts in the Q and A
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2026 5:13 am
After a major central bank decision, the statement arrives first, followed thirty minutes later by a press conference. Many traders give the statement most of their attention and treat the press conference as secondary.
In practice, the press conference often produces larger moves. The chair can clarify, soften, or sharpen the message, and an answer to a single question can change expectations about the next meeting.
Language matters. A hint that rates could rise or fall soon shifts pricing right away. A single phrase can undo the initial reaction to the statement.
For scalpers, the press conference offers a second chance to trade, with caveats. Spreads are usually back to normal, but volatility is still elevated, and surprises can come in any minute.
Many traders find it useful to watch a live feed with a text summary service, which delivers key lines fast enough to follow, if not to front-run.
One approach is to mark the start of the press conference on the chart and compare the range in the following thirty minutes with the range after the statement. A few meetings are enough to see whether the second event is more important for the pair being traded.
Do you trade the press conference as a separate event, and how do your results compare with trading the statement?
In practice, the press conference often produces larger moves. The chair can clarify, soften, or sharpen the message, and an answer to a single question can change expectations about the next meeting.
Language matters. A hint that rates could rise or fall soon shifts pricing right away. A single phrase can undo the initial reaction to the statement.
For scalpers, the press conference offers a second chance to trade, with caveats. Spreads are usually back to normal, but volatility is still elevated, and surprises can come in any minute.
Many traders find it useful to watch a live feed with a text summary service, which delivers key lines fast enough to follow, if not to front-run.
One approach is to mark the start of the press conference on the chart and compare the range in the following thirty minutes with the range after the statement. A few meetings are enough to see whether the second event is more important for the pair being traded.
Do you trade the press conference as a separate event, and how do your results compare with trading the statement?