August Non Farm Payrolls report misses expectations as July’s report shrivels.
The government’s non farm payrolls report today showed that the country added 169,000 jobs in August which was below expectations and lifted hopes for an extension in the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program.
Overall unemployment declined to 7.3%, down from last month’s 7.4% due to people leaving the work force and the overall labor force participation rate, the percentage of people in the workforce, fell to 35 year lows at 63.2%.
July’s estimate was revised sharply downward to 104,000 from the previously estimated 162,000 which added further weakness to the economic picture.
Under the hood details showed that the private sector added 152,000 jobs while the government added just 17,000 as sequestration added drag to government hiring.
Average workweek remained mostly flat at 34.5 hours while wages are up 2.2% for the year.
Financial markets react to non farm payrolls report:
Initial market response to the weak non farm payrolls report indicate that participants expect the Federal Reserve to delay the previously widely anticipated “tapering” of its QE programs at its September 17-18 meeting:
Gold (GLD) rallied on the news, coming back from an earlier decline
European stocks (EFA) rallied
Treasury Bonds (TLT) dropped sharply
U.S. stock index (SPY) futures rallied on the news
Oil (USO) spiked higher
Non Farm Payrolls: To Taper Or Not To Taper
So now the question becomes one of how the Federal Reserve will react to this last major data point before its pivotal September meeting.
Is the report good enough to taper or not?Analysts’ reactions were mixed with the majority seemingly believing that there would be a small initial reduction in the Federal Reserve’s asset buying program in September.
Famous bear, Dr. Nouriel Roubini says no taper now while Speaker of the House John Boehner tweeted that it was “another mediocre jobs report.”
Bottom line: U.S. employment growth remains mediocre, and bad news apparently is still good as global equities markets rally on the hope for more easy money. The questions of the day are, “How long can the Fed fight off weak fundamentals and why does growth remain so anemic in spite of years of unprecedented easy monetary policy?”
Disclaimer: The content included herein is for educational and informational purposes only, and readers agree to Wall Street Sector Selector's Disclaimer, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy before accessing or using this or any other publication by Wall Street Sector Selector or Ridgeline Media Group, LLC.
The government’s non farm payrolls report today showed that the country added 169,000 jobs in August which was below expectations and lifted hopes for an extension in the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program.
Overall unemployment declined to 7.3%, down from last month’s 7.4% due to people leaving the work force and the overall labor force participation rate, the percentage of people in the workforce, fell to 35 year lows at 63.2%.
July’s estimate was revised sharply downward to 104,000 from the previously estimated 162,000 which added further weakness to the economic picture.
Under the hood details showed that the private sector added 152,000 jobs while the government added just 17,000 as sequestration added drag to government hiring.
Average workweek remained mostly flat at 34.5 hours while wages are up 2.2% for the year.
Financial markets react to non farm payrolls report:
Initial market response to the weak non farm payrolls report indicate that participants expect the Federal Reserve to delay the previously widely anticipated “tapering” of its QE programs at its September 17-18 meeting:
Gold (GLD) rallied on the news, coming back from an earlier decline
European stocks (EFA) rallied
Treasury Bonds (TLT) dropped sharply
U.S. stock index (SPY) futures rallied on the news
Oil (USO) spiked higher
Non Farm Payrolls: To Taper Or Not To Taper
So now the question becomes one of how the Federal Reserve will react to this last major data point before its pivotal September meeting.
Is the report good enough to taper or not?Analysts’ reactions were mixed with the majority seemingly believing that there would be a small initial reduction in the Federal Reserve’s asset buying program in September.
Famous bear, Dr. Nouriel Roubini says no taper now while Speaker of the House John Boehner tweeted that it was “another mediocre jobs report.”
Bottom line: U.S. employment growth remains mediocre, and bad news apparently is still good as global equities markets rally on the hope for more easy money. The questions of the day are, “How long can the Fed fight off weak fundamentals and why does growth remain so anemic in spite of years of unprecedented easy monetary policy?”
Disclaimer: The content included herein is for educational and informational purposes only, and readers agree to Wall Street Sector Selector's Disclaimer, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy before accessing or using this or any other publication by Wall Street Sector Selector or Ridgeline Media Group, LLC.