Howdy folks,
We’ve had a busy week in the markets, but it’s not over yet.
Friday morning before markets open, we get Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) — one of the most closely watched economic reports each month.
And with everything that’s been going on, this one could be a market mover.
Why This Jobs Report Matters
The Fed has made it clear: they’re watching employment data closely as they decide what to do next with interest rates.
And while traders will focus on the headline NFP number, there’s another stat I’ve got my eye on: Government Payrolls.
Government hiring has been very strong for months, with tens of thousands of jobs being added regularly. But if that trend reverses and we start seeing job losses in the public sector, that could send a major signal about where the economy is headed.
What to Watch Tomorrow
- Total Jobs Added: Did we beat or miss expectations?
- Government Payrolls: Are we finally seeing a slowdown in government hiring?
- Market Reaction: Futures will react immediately, but the real move might not come until after the opening bell.
The pre-market’s initial reaction when the report is released at 8:30am Eastern might not be the full story — sometimes we see a head-fake move before the real trend develops after stocks open at 9:30am.
I covered all this and more in today’s Market Radar livestream.
We also talked about:
📉 Why Amazon’s earnings could set the tone for the tech sector
💰 Gold’s pullback — normal correction or something more?
📊 What’s really happening under the hood in the S&P 500
Click here to watch the replay now — it’s free!
Stay sharp,
—Geof Smith
P.S. If that jobs report sends markets into a tailspin, you’re going to want to be prepared with my Bear Market Game Plan. Check it out right here.
