US recap: Surprise payrolls dip sinks USD as Fed cut pace quickens
Aug 2 (Reuters) -The dollar index fell to a near 5-month low in Friday trading, -1.12% to 103.14, having added to overnight weakness after U.S. payrolls data came in well below forecasts, and revisions to prior data added to the growing dovish Fed expectations.
UST yields across the curve moved lower, with the bulk of yield declines in the front-end of the curve, exacerbating USD weakness, prodding the dollar lower still after durable goods and factory orders came in below-forecast which stirred a second round of USD weakness.
With the data hinting at falling employment and growth, markets have ratcheted higher Fed rate cut expectations and STIR futures are now pricing a 72% chance for a Fed 50bp cut in September, and slightly better than 50% odds for a fifth Fed cut heading into year-end 2024.
EUR/USD rose 1.14% to 1.0915 as EZ-U.S. rates converged after the soft payrolls data. With U.S. Treasury yield gains far outstripping bunds and other European bonds, the shift lower in Fed rate expectations boosted the euro as U.S. rates reprice considerably lower heading into year-end 2024.
USD/JPY fell 1.72% in Friday trading also aided by converging U.S.-Japan rates. LSEG's IRPR pages show odds for a fifth Fed cut by year-end 2024 currently slightly better than 50%, while the BoJ is expected to hike further in 2024.
GBP/USD rallied off support near its daily cloud top at 1.2706, rising to a post-payrolls high at 1.2840, with trading capped for now ahead of the falling 10-DMA at 1.2855 and recent highs in the 1.2860s.
Sterling strength may be fleeting as, depending on upcoming data, the BoE may take a more dovish tack should UK inflation and employment move lower. However, for now the UK's relative yield advantage over the U.S. should keep GBP bid.
Risk in general was well offered, with the three major U.S. equity indexes all down more than 2% as soft landing expectations have been dialed back considerably after today's downside payrolls surprise.
Gold backed away from Thursday's record high, trading -1.3% at $2,415, silver fell slightly more given its industrial use trading -1.9% at $28, as risk continues to unwind.
Cryptos were sold as well as traders cut profitable trades to offset equity and other portfolio losses. Bitcoin fell 3% to $62.6k and ethereum fell 5.5% to $3,000.
For more click on FXBUZ
Editing by Terence Gabriel
Paul Spirgel is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
