Forexlive Americas FX news wrap: US jobs report is strong. USD, yields and stocks rise 0 (0)

The US September jobs report today exceeded expectations, with non-farm payrolls increasing by 254K compared to the 140K anticipated. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1%, nearly reaching 4.0%, and the participation rate held steady at 62.7%.

Private payrolls surged by 223K, while average hourly earnings rose by 0.4% month-over-month and 4.0% year-over-year, both above forecasts.Manufacturing payrolls dropped by 7K, an improvement over prior data.

The household survey showed a gain of 430K jobs, with a notable increase in full-time employment (+631K) but a decrease in part-time jobs (-201K). The strong data diminished expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut at the November meeting, driving the US dollar higher, but implies a more solid US economy.

With the Fed feeling that inflation is under control, if the jobs gains fill job needs, there is a chance it may not be inflationary and therefore may keep the Fed on it recalibration path. Fed’s Goolsbee was the only Fed officisl who commented on the report, descriving it as „super,“ and also highlighted the end of the port strike as additional positive news.

However, he cautioned against reacting too strongly to a single data point, emphasizing that more reports like this would increase confidence in achieving full employment. He noted that strong job numbers are likely to reflect strong GDP growth.

While the Fed is still determining the neutral interest rate, he suggested it is likely higher than zero and could fall within the 2.5-3.5% range, though there is time to figure this out. Goolsbee stressed the importance of maintaining current economic conditions, and while productivity growth could lead to a higher neutral rate, the economy would need to handle it.

He also acknowledged that broad indicators show the labor market is cooling, but rejected the notion of a „soft landing“ as the economy continues to move forward.

The Fed’s ideal scenario would see unemployment between 4-4.5% and inflation around 2%, which he believes would satisfy the Fed’s goals. As more data becomes available ahead of the next Fed meeting, Goolsbee warned that external shocks could still derail efforts toward a soft landing.

For now, however, it is back to happy/giddy times. Next week the US CPI data will be released with the expectation for the headline (0.1%) and the core (0.2%) to be on the tame side once again, although the core YoY is still elevated at 3.2%. The headline YoY is expected to dip to 2.3% from 2.5%.

The news today sent stocks higher with the Dow industrial average closing at a new record high. A snapshot of the closing levels shows:

  • Dow industrial average rose 341.16 points or 0.81% at 42352.75
  • S&P index rose 51.13 points or 0.90% at 5751.07
  • NASDAQ index rose 219.37 points or 1.22% at 18137.85

The small-cap Russell 2000 rose 32.65 points or 1.50% at 2212.79.

For the trading week, the gains were modest with the Nasdaq up 0.10%, the Dow up 0.09% and the S&P up 0.22%.

IN the US debt market, yields moved sharply higher with:

  • 2 year yield: 3.928%, +21.4 basis points
  • 5 year yield 3.807%, +17.4 basis points
  • 10-year yield 3.967%, +11.7 basis points
  • 30 year yield 4.249%, +.0 basis points

For the trading week:

  • 2 year rose 36.5 basis points
  • 5 year rose 30.0 basis points
  • 10 year rose 21.3 basis points
  • 30 year rose 14.5 basis points

Mortgage rates are back up 6.5%

Looking at the strongest weakest of the major currencies, the GBP and the USD are the strongest while the JPY is the weakest.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

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WSJs Timiraos: A solid September payroll takes a lot of November Fed meeting 0 (0)

Wall Street Journal’s Nick Timiraos is out with a tweet saying:

  • A very solid September payroll report probably takes a lot of the drama out of the November Fed meeting
  • Likely leaves officials on course for a 25 basis point cut.

Looking at the probability of a 25 basis point cut, that is now at 99%, while remaining unchanged is that 1%.

At points last week, the intimate 50 basis point cut was upwards of 60% for November.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

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US major indices close the day higher helped by strong jobs 0 (0)

US stocks moved higher despite yields moving higher as US jobs showed strength and the striking dockworkers reached a tentative agreement averting a prolonged closure of key port’s

A snapshot of the closing levels shows:

  • Dow industrial average rose 341.16 points or 0.81% at 42352.75
  • S&P index rose 51.13 points or 0.90% at 5751.07
  • NASDAQ index rose 219.37 points or 1.22% at 18137.85

The small-cap Russell 2000 rose 32.65 points or 1.50% at 2212.79.

For the trading week:

  • Dow industrial average was able to reverse declines and close higher by 39.75 points or 0.09%
  • S&P index also moved into positive territory with a gain of 12.90 points or 0.22%
  • NASDAQ index rose by 18.26 points or 0.10%
  • Russell 2000 could not reverse earlier declines and is closing down -11.90 points or -0.53% for the week

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

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USDJPY breaks higher this week and extends above the 38.2% of move down from July 3 high 0 (0)

As the week comes to a close, the USDJPY is trading near the highs for the day and the week. The move to the upside today off the unexpected US jobs report, was able to take the price above a key swing area ceiling around the 147.33 level and also above the 38.2% retracement of the move down from the July 3 high at 148.116.

Both of those levels will be support for traders going into the new trading week. Going forward, if the price can remain above each, the buyers are still in play.

On the topside, the high price from August 15 at 149.356 is the next target to get to and through. Move above that level and traders would start to target a cluster of key targets including the:

  • 50% midpoint of the move down from the July high at 150.75
  • The 200 day moving average at 151.046
  • The 100 day moving average at 151.599.

This week, the Japan’s PM dialed back his call for a hike, and BOJ Ueda said that the markets were unstable. In the past, he commented that he unstable market would keep the Bank of Japan on the sidelines. That has been a tail wind for a weaker JPY. The US jobs report, gave the dollar buyers more incentive to take the USDJPY higher as well.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

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The EURUSD had moved lower to the next target support, setting the levels for next week. 0 (0)

As we head into the close, the EURUSD is trading near lows for the week.

The strong US jobs data today helped to push the pair below a swing area between 1.1001 and 1.1014, and also the 50% midpoint of the move up from the August 1 low at 1.0995. That area will now be close resistance going into the new trading week.

On the downside, the 61.8% retracement of the same move higher comes in at 1.0944. That is within a swing area going back to July 17 between 1.09419 and 1.0949. That will be a key bias-defining level for next week’s traders on the downside. Move below it, and then its 100-day moving average at 1.0928, and traders would then look toward the 200-day moving average of 1.08738 (and moving higher).

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.

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