The crypto market, particularly Bitcoin (BTC), experienced a temporary setback when U.S. employment data surprised investors on October 6th. Bitcoin briefly dropped 2%, touching $27,000 before a swift recovery looking at official CoinMarketCap Data and at the moment it is trading again around the selling resistance of $28,000.
These BTC price movements are directly tied to the unexpected non-farm payroll (NFP) figures and growing speculations regarding the actions of the Federal Reserve (Fed) concerning interest rates.
Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP), represent a vital economic indicator released by the U.S. government. These data provide insight into the overall health of the labor market by revealing the number of jobs created or lost in the non-agricultural sector of the economy. Essentially, NFP figures shed light on the country’s employment situation, making them a key focus for investors, policymakers, and economists.
When NFP results deviate significantly from expectations, as they did recently, it can trigger significant reactions in financial markets due to the potential implications for economic policies, such as those of the Federal Reserve.
September’s NFP figures defied all expectations by registering the creation of 336,000 jobs, far surpassing earlier estimates of 170,000. This remarkable increase, although positive for the job market, raised concerns among investors due to the potential implications for the Fed’s economic policy.
Positive economic data, under normal circumstances, tends to be well-received in financial markets. However, in this case, investors interpreted the NFP as a possible signal that the Fed could take more aggressive measures to curb inflation. This led to a momentary dip in BTC’s price as investors feared that higher interest rates could negatively affect risk assets, including criptos.
BREAKING: Odds of a rate HIKE rise to 44% after September jobs report and Fed PAUSE expectations have been extended.
Odds of an additional rate hike jumped from 34% to 44% after the report.
Furthermore, the Fed pause was previously expected until June 2024, now a pause is… pic.twitter.com/9Ri86Ka98G
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) October 6, 2023
Another Keys to Research
Additionally, analysts are closely monitoring the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key inflation indicator used by the Fed in its decision-making process. The CPI’s performance in the coming months could shed light on the future direction of Fed policy and its impact on financial markets, including Bitcoin.
The decline in Bitcoin’s open interest has also been a cause for concern among investors. It has been observed that BTC’s open interest has decreased, possibly indicating greater caution and reduced trading activity in the crypto market.
