The following is a guest editorial courtesy of Charlotte Day, Creative Director at Contentworks Agency.
The first three quarters of 2025 have been a mixed bag for financial markets, with a general sense of cautious optimism despite persistent geopolitical and economic headwinds. Central banks have been a dominant force in the markets in 2025, with traders keeping their eyes on rate cuts by the Fed and ECB. Meanwhile, the stock markets have generally performed well, with a notable recovery from a sharp sell-off in April. This rebound was largely driven by the encouraging Q2 earnings season. In fact, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 have seen solid gains, breaking through the “wall of worry” created by the Trump tariffs and persistent geopolitical tensions.
Now it’s time for brokers to prepare to support their traders for all that Q4 has in store.
The October Effect
October is possibly the most feared month in the financial calendar and not just because of Halloween! Stock traders worry that they might be caught in the October Effect, a widespread but statistically questionable belief that stock markets are more prone to declines and crashes in October. This belief was spawned by momentous historical events that all occurred in October – the 1907 Bank Panic, the 1929 Stock Market Crash, and the 1987 Black Monday crash.
The reality is that while October shows higher volatility historically, average returns for the S&P 500 tend to be positive. So, the effect might simply be a case of a self-fulfilling prophecy, fuelled by investor psychology and confirmation bias.
October will also see the Q3 earnings season with JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Citibank kicking off the earnings releases and setting expectations for the rest of the season. If the banks report beats results, the stock markets could rally.
The FOMC is scheduled to meet on October 28-29, while the ECB’s monetary policy committee is scheduled to meet on October 29-30. So, the month might end with important announcements regarding interest rates in the US and the Eurozone, which will cause volatility in currency pairs that include the US dollar or euro.
October Engagement for Brokers
There is plenty of scope for content marketing around October events and the October Effect. You can have some fun with a TikTok miniseries referencing past events or create gamification around important announcements, like the Fed or ECB interest rate decisions. For instance, a “Rate Cut Trading Challenge,” where, if there is a rate cut, traders with the best performance join a leaderboard. Also, offer forex educational resources on how to trade during periods of high volatility, typically seen after a central bank announcement or company earnings release.
An in-house analyst can provide a pre-event analysis explaining what to watch for and what to expect. During the live event, they can react to announcements and central bank press conferences in real time. This shows expertise and inspires traders.
November: Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales
This year, the UN Climate Change Conference will be held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10 to 20. Any crucial decisions that could impact the energy and renewables sector would be worth watching for traders.
In addition, the G20 Summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22 and 23. The summit’s agenda, particularly its focus on debt sustainability, climate finance, and international taxation, could directly influence market sentiment, capital flows, and policy directions. The G20’s declarations often set the tone for global economic cooperation and can provide clarity on future fiscal and monetary policies.
November is also the month that the holiday sales season kicks off. No wonder the S&P 500 has given annualised returns of 10.5% per year during this month over the past 100 years. Of course, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales aren’t a century old, but they do move retail stocks. Plus, it could bring some holiday cheer into the markets. It might also be interesting to watch whether the increased energy demand, as winter sets in, moves the oil markets. For now, the US EIA expects Brent crude to drop to $58 per barrel in Q4 due to the lifting of production cuts by OPEC+.
November Actionables for Brokers
This could be a good time for a live webinar. A well-timed session can cover key themes that resonate with global markets, such as oil price dynamics, the accelerating shift toward renewable energy, and major stock market movements tied to Q4 earnings reports or year-end positioning. By framing the discussion around current opportunities and risks, brokers can help traders better understand how to navigate cross-asset correlations. For example, how fluctuations in oil prices might impact energy stocks or certain currencies, or how renewable energy developments could influence long-term equity trends. Live webinars also provide an interactive layer of engagement, where traders can ask questions, test their strategies against expert viewpoints, and feel part of a community.
An expert whitepaper or blog analysing the outcome of key summits or oil movements would also be an excellent addition for experienced traders.
The December Santa Claus Rally
As the year ends, a host of important data is released. These include final GDP figures, inflation reports, and employment numbers. The last major event is often the final central bank meeting of the year. These data releases provide a final look at the economic health of major economies. Strong data can confirm a positive outlook for 2026 and support domestic currencies. Weak data can suggest a coming slowdown. They can also cause last-minute market moves as traders close positions or open new ones for the new year. For example, a surprise in the US Non-Farm Payrolls report can cause immediate and sharp moves in the USD.
Then, there’s hope for a Santa Claus rally, despite the “Grinch” period seen at the end of 2024 with no such rally. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has had positive returns during this period in about 79% of the years. The average gain during the seven-day window at the end of December and beginning of January is about 1.3%.
Be Your Traders’ Santa Claus
December is a good month to help traders prepare for the new year. Market outlook reports and predictions could attract potential traders, becoming your gated lead magnets. However, December is also a month that tends to see low liquidity. A series of articles on risk management might prove useful. It can help traders prepare for the end-of-year holiday trading season. A “Trading in December” guide can give tips on what to watch for. It can also highlight the importance of using stop losses.
Tradeable Analysis
We like to create compliant content around major economic releases, such as the US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report, central bank rate decisions, or key inflation data; events that move markets and directly influence trading sentiment. By offering both pre-event outlooks that highlight potential tradable setups and post-event analysis that break down the outcomes, brokers demonstrate thought leadership while keeping traders actively engaged.
Publishing this type of timely, SEO-optimised content not only captures search traffic from traders specifically looking for guidance around these high-impact events, but it also builds credibility and trust with audiences who value expert interpretation of raw data. Educational layers, such as explaining what the NFP means for currency pairs or how to manage volatility risk, ensure that newer traders feel supported. Meanwhile more experienced traders appreciate deeper technical or fundamental insights. Together, this approach positions your broker as a go-to resource, drives consistent organic traffic, and nurtures trader confidence.
Keep Traders Trading
In Q4, brokers can significantly boost trader acquisition by leveraging a content strategy that combines insightful forex analysis, real-time market news, and educational resources. Traders are increasingly drawn to platforms that not only deliver up-to-the-minute updates but also provide actionable insights that help them trade in fast-moving markets. By publishing SEO-optimised blog content that balances expert analysis with beginner-friendly education, brokers can capture search traffic from both seasoned traders and newcomers. This dual approach positions brokers as a trusted authority, improves online visibility, and nurtures trader confidence.
Book a free Zoom call with our team to accelerate your Q4 forex marketing.
