All eyes on the jobs report

A tentative start to trading on Friday as we wrap up another action-packed week with the US jobs report in a couple of hours. Jerome Powell’s comments on Wednesday made clear the direction of travel that Fed policymakers are keen to undertake but ultimately, the data must allow for it. So far, that has very much happened with inflation falling more than anticipated in October, the manufacturing sector softening, supply chains improving and labour market performing less well.

US nonfarm payrolls expected to fall to 200K

Today’s jobs report will offer further insight into whether this last point continues to be the case. Jobs growth around 200,000 would continue the trend since earlier this year and, alongside rising jobless claims, point to a cooling in the labour market. But it’s the wages that the Fed cares most about. A moderation in earnings growth is essential to get policymakers on board and perhaps even bring down the terminal rate over the coming months. It’s not just about putting inflation on a better trajectory, it’s about ensuring it can return to target on a sustainable basis and that requires earnings to rise at a more modest rate to ensure inflation doesn’t become entrenched.

Considering the data we’ve seen since the last meeting, it would take something truly shocking for the Fed to change course now, I feel. And perhaps even that would need to be backed up by a nasty shock from the inflation data a day before they announce their next rate decision. Of course, at this point, the terminal rate is what matters most so an encouraging report today would be very welcomed and could see markets end the week on a high.

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Craig Erlam

Craig Erlam

Former Senior Market Analyst, UK & EMEA at OANDA
Based in London, Craig Erlam joined OANDA in 2015 as a market analyst. With many years of experience as a financial market analyst and trader, he focuses on both fundamental and technical analysis while producing macroeconomic commentary.

His views have been published in the Financial Times, Reuters, The Telegraph and the International Business Times, and he also appears as a regular guest commentator on the BBC, Bloomberg TV, FOX Business and SKY News.

Craig holds a full membership to the Society of Technical Analysts and is recognised as a Certified Financial Technician by the International Federation of Technical Analysts.