NFP beats expectations with 235K and January revised higher to 238K. The unemployment rate drops to 4.7%. Wages are up 0.2% m/m, slightly below predictions but the previous month was revised up. The “real unemployment rate” falls to 9.2%. All in all, a solid report.
The dollar is sliding across the board. It seems like a “sell the fact” phenomenon.
The US Non-Farm Payrolls report was expected to show a gain of around 185K (or 220K after the strong ADP). More importantly, wages carried expectations for a rise of 0.3% m/m and around 2.8% y/y.
The bar was very low for a rate hike in five days time. Fed Chair Janet Yellen basically told us that a hike is coming barring any disaster. Given the late publication, on the tenth, the Fed may have already had the data.
February 2017 NFP Data (updated)
NFP Currency Reaction
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