A better week for initial claims

Stuart Cowell HFM

GBP/USD, H1

US initial jobless claims dropped -75,000 to 712,000 in the week ended November 28, much larger than expected, after rising 39,000 to 787,000 (was 778,000) in the November 21 week. This week’s figure broke a string of two consecutive weekly increases in claims. The 4-week moving average fell to 739,500 from 750,750 (was 748,500). Initial claims not seasonally adjusted declined another -122,500 to 713,800 following the 86,900k increase to 836,300 (was 827,700). Continuing claims plunged -569,000 to 5.520 million in the November 21 week versus the -281,000 prior dive to 6.089 million (was 6,071 million). The insured unemployment rate slid to 3.8% from 4.2% (was 4.1%).

The Dollar edged slightly higher following the jobless claims data, which saw initial and continuing claims fall more than expected. USDJPY moved from 104.02 to 104.08, as EURUSD dipped to 1.2144 from 1.2157. Cable remains on track as the biggest mover today up 0.75% at 1.3458 as the market prices in a UK-EU trade deal as 1.3500 comes very much into focus.

Author

Stuart Cowell

HFM

With over 25 years experience working for a host of globally recognized organisations in the City of London, Stuart Cowell is a passionate advocate of keeping things simple, doing what is probable and understanding how the news, c

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