- DXY remains under pressure, testing 107.35 support despite upbeat ADP and S&P Global PMI data.
- ISM Services PMI disappoints, signaling weaker-than-expected service sector growth and moderating price pressures.
- US 10-year yield rebounds, hovering around 4.40% after touching a yearly low.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the US Dollar (USD) against a basket of currencies, struggled to recover losses on Wednesday and declined against most major peers. Despite stronger than expected ADP Employment and S&P Global PMI data, the ISM Services PMI fell short of forecasts, casting doubt on the strength of the United States (US) economy.
The Fed Sentiment Index, which previously sat at 130.00, has cooled off, signaling a less hawkish tone from policymakers. As a result, traders are reassessing the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) rate path, contributing to the DXY’s weak price action around 107.35 support.
Daily digest market movers: US Dollar struggles as mixed data weighs on sentiment
- ADP Employment Report showed that private sector employment jumped by 183,000 in January, exceeding the 150,000 forecast. Consumer-facing industries drove job creation, while manufacturing saw weaker gains.
- S&P Global PMI data revealed that the final readings for January saw minor upward revisions with the Services PMI at 52.9 (vs. 52.8 expected) and the Composite PMI at 52.7 (vs. 52.4 prior).
- ISM Services PMI: Disappointed at 52.8, missing the expected 54.3, while the Prices Paid index eased to 60.4 from 64.4, indicating softer inflationary pressures.
- All eyes are now on Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls for January, which are expected to print a weak result that might weaken the USD further.
DXY technical outlook: Bears eye 107.00 support
The DXY’s momentum indicators reflect a shift toward bearish traction. The Fed Sentiment Index cooling off from 130.00 aligns with weaker ISM data, weighing on the USD.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dropped below 50, while the index has fallen beneath the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 108.50. If downside pressure persists, the next key level to watch is the psychological support at 107.00.
Nonfarm Payrolls FAQs
Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) are part of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly jobs report. The Nonfarm Payrolls component specifically measures the change in the number of people employed in the US during the previous month, excluding the farming industry.
The Nonfarm Payrolls figure can influence the decisions of the Federal Reserve by providing a measure of how successfully the Fed is meeting its mandate of fostering full employment and 2% inflation. A relatively high NFP figure means more people are in employment, earning more money and therefore probably spending more. A relatively low Nonfarm Payrolls’ result, on the either hand, could mean people are struggling to find work. The Fed will typically raise interest rates to combat high inflation triggered by low unemployment, and lower them to stimulate a stagnant labor market.
Nonfarm Payrolls generally have a positive correlation with the US Dollar. This means when payrolls’ figures come out higher-than-expected the USD tends to rally and vice versa when they are lower. NFPs influence the US Dollar by virtue of their impact on inflation, monetary policy expectations and interest rates. A higher NFP usually means the Federal Reserve will be more tight in its monetary policy, supporting the USD.
Nonfarm Payrolls are generally negatively-correlated with the price of Gold. This means a higher-than-expected payrolls’ figure will have a depressing effect on the Gold price and vice versa. Higher NFP generally has a positive effect on the value of the USD, and like most major commodities Gold is priced in US Dollars. If the USD gains in value, therefore, it requires less Dollars to buy an ounce of Gold. Also, higher interest rates (typically helped higher NFPs) also lessen the attractiveness of Gold as an investment compared to staying in cash, where the money will at least earn interest.
Nonfarm Payrolls is only one component within a bigger jobs report and it can be overshadowed by the other components. At times, when NFP come out higher-than-forecast, but the Average Weekly Earnings is lower than expected, the market has ignored the potentially inflationary effect of the headline result and interpreted the fall in earnings as deflationary. The Participation Rate and the Average Weekly Hours components can also influence the market reaction, but only in seldom events like the “Great Resignation” or the Global Financial Crisis.
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