Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
Preview for February NFPs and Implications for the US Dollar

Preview for February NFPs and Implications for the US Dollar

Talking Points:

- Euro and Yen likely to move in same direction around NFPs.

- Retail crowd continues to fade recent US Dollar selloff.

- As market volatility rises, it's a good time to review risk management principles.

It's the second US labor market report of 2016, and its coming less than two weeks ahead of the Federal Reserve's March policy meeting - one in which their previously outlined policy path suggested would be memorable for its 25-bps rate hike. Alas, that's simply not the way markets see it: there's only an 8% chance of a rate hike in March and one priced in by December overall:

Table 1: Fed Funds Futures Contract Implied Probabilities: March 4, 2016

fed funds rate hike expectations

Ultimately, it looks like the FOMC is shaping expectations for two rate hikes this year, one in June and another in December. Today's NFP print can help cater to or work against the market pricing that in today; the FOMC will probably lay out that path at the March meeting anyhow. A strong NFP print brings forward that catalyst; a weaker one delays it. For the US Dollar, it needs more than another 'goldilocks' report.

The key question today is thus: is US labor market strength strong enough to boost Fed rate hike optimism afloat? Current expectations for today's data are only decent, with the Unemployment Rate expected to hold at 4.9%, and the headline jobs figure to come in at +195K after January's disappointing +151K. Wage growth figures are due to come in at +2.5% y/y.

The market consensus for today's NFP release seems to be reasonably muted. The two inputs used in the 10-year Nonfarm Payroll Regression Model, ADP Employment Change and the ISM Services Employment sub-index, have both subsided in recent prints. As a result, the regression model is forecasting February Nonfarm Payrolls at +182K. I’ve also included the summary table on the stats.

Chart 1: 10-year Nonfarm Payrolls Regression Model

Table 2: 10-year NFP Regression Model Statistical Summary

Note: these are publicly available data, and a basic form of analysis is being used, so these findings aren't necessarily unique.

Another middling print may prove to be better for risk assets than the US Dollar: signs that the US economy is still chugging along (albeit at a slower pace than desired - at least its not tilting into a recession quicker) mean the Fed will be more patient, keeping the low rate happy hour going for just a bit longer.

Read more: Don’t Look Now - Risk Markets are Trying to Stage a Comeback

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, Currency Strategist

To contact Christopher Vecchio, e-mail cvecchio@dailyfx.com

Follow him on Twitter at @CVecchioFX

To be added to Christopher's e-mail distribution list, please fill out this form

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES