EUR/USD Downside Targets in Focus Ahead of Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)

– U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) to Increase 200+K for Seventh Consecutive Month.
– Would Match the Longest String of 200+K Prints Since 1997.

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Trading the News: U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls
The EUR/USD may face a further decline over the next 24-hours of trade as the U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report is expected to show the world’s largest economy adding another 230K jobs in August while the jobless rate is expected to narrow to an annualized 6.1% from 6.2% the month prior.

What’s Expected:
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Why Is This Event Important:
Signs of a more robust recovery may further boost interest rate expectations as the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is expected to halt its asset-purchase program at the October 29 meeting, and the bullish sentiment surrounding the U.S dollar may gather pace throughout the remainder of the year as a growing number of central bank officials show a greater willing to normalize monetary policy sooner rather than later.

Expectations: Bullish Argument/Scenario

Release

Expected

Actual

ISM Non-Manufacturing- Employment (AUG)

57.1

ISM Manufacturing- Employment (AUG)

58.1

Gross Domestic Product (Annualized) (2Q S)

3.9%

4.2%

The pickup in economic activity paired with the highest ISM employment prints for 2014 may highlight a further expansion in job growth, and an above-forecast NFP figure may spur fresh monthly lows in the EUR/USD amid the deviation in the policy outlook.

Risk: Bearish Argument/Scenario

Release

Expected

Actual

Personal Spending (JUL)

0.2%

-0.1%

Durable Goods Orders ex Transportation (JUL)

0.5%

-0.8%

Advance Retail Sales (MoM) (JUL)

0.2%

0.0%

On the other hand, the recent slowdown in private-sector consumption – one of the leading drivers of growth – may generate another weaker-than-expect print, and a soft employment reading may spur a more meaningful pullback in the greenback as it dampens the outlook for the world’s largest economy.

How To Trade This Event Risk(Video)

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Bullish USD Trade: NFPs Climb 230K or Greater While Jobless Rate Slips to 6.1% or Lower
Need red, five-minute candle following the release to consider a short trade on EUR/USD
If market reaction favors a long dollar trade, sell EUR/USD with two separate position
Set stop at the near-by swing high/reasonable distance from entry; look for at least 1:1 risk-to-reward
Move stop to entry on remaining position once initial target is hit; set reasonable limit

Bearish USD Trade: Job Growth Falls Short of Market Forecast
Need green, five-minute candle to favor a long EUR/USD trade
Implement same setup as the bullish dollar trade, just in the opposite direction

Potential Price Targets For The Release

Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0
Downside targets remain favored as RSI pushes deeper into oversold territory.
Interim Resistance: 1.3350 (61.8% expansion) to 1.3370 (50.0% retracement)
Interim Support: 1.2870 (50.0% expansion) to 1.2900 (1.618% expansion)

Read More:
Key Levels for EUR Crosses- USD/CAD Inverse H&S Pattern at Risk
Euro Plunges as European Central Bank Cuts Rates, Announces QE

Impact that the U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls report has had on EUR/USD during the previous month

Period

Data Released

Estimate

Actual

Pips Change
(1 Hour post event )

Pips Change
(End of Day post event)

JUL 2014

8/01/2014 12:30 GMT

230K

209K

+ 24

+ 33

July 2014 U.S. Non-Farm Payrolls
The U.S. economy added 209K jobs in July, following a revised 298K increase the month prior. The print was below the average estimate of 230K. The jobless rate unexpectedly rose to 6.2% from 6.1% in June as discouraged workers returned to the labor force. Nevertheless, the greenback lost ground following the below-forecast print, with the EUR/USD rallying to a high of 1.3443 going into the European close.

— Written by David Song, Currency Analyst and Shuyang Ren

To contact David, e-mail dsong@dailyfx.com. Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.

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Source: Daily fx