|

U.S. October job counts seem distorted by hurricanes/strikes – RBC

The tiny 12k payroll employment gain in October was heavily distorted by the impact of hurricanes, a large strike in the manufacturing sector, and an unusually low initial survey response rate, RBC’ economists note.

Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points next week

“The unemployment rate was likely a 'cleaner' read on labour markets in October, and it was unchanged from September and still slightly below levels in the summer.”

“Underlying details are still consistent with a softening in labour markets - permanent layoffs rose and downward revisions knocked 112k off payroll employment growth in August and September - but still at a very gradual pace that is consistent with a 'normalization' from unusually low unemployment levels rather than a faltering.”

“Interest rates are still likely higher than they need to be for inflation to return fully back to the Fed’s 2% inflation target, and today's data helps to reinforce our expectation that the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points next week.”

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD eases from around 1.1800 after US GDP figures

The US Dollar is finding some near-term demand after the release of the US Q3 GDP. According to the report, the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the three months to September, well above the 3.3% forecast by market analysts.

GBP/USD retreats below 1.3500 on modest USD recovery

GBP/USD retreats from session highs and trades slightly below 1.3500 in the second half of the day on Tuesday. The US Dollar stages a rebound following the better-than-expected Q3 growth data, limiting the pair's upside ahead of the Christmas break.

Gold rises to record high above $4,500 on safe-haven flows

Gold rises and hits its record high around $4,505 during the Asian session on Wednesday. The precious metal gains momentum as the Israel-Iran conflict and the rising in US-Venezuela tensions boost the safe-haven demand. Furthermore, the recent soft US inflation and cool jobs reports have fueled market expectations for at least two 25-basis-point rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve next year. 

XRP price under pressure amid technical weakness and reduced whale holdings

Ripple is extending its decline below $1.90 at the time of writing on Tuesday, as headwinds intensify across the crypto market. Negative market sentiment has persisted despite a surge in inflows to XRP spot Exchange Traded Funds.

Ten questions that matter going into 2026

2026 may be less about a neat “base case” and more about a regime shift—the market can reprice what matters most (growth, inflation, fiscal, geopolitics, concentration). The biggest trap is false comfort: the same trades can look defensive… right up until they become crowded.

Dogecoin ticks lower as low Open Interest, funding rate weigh on buyers

Dogecoin extends its decline as risk-off sentiment dominates across the crypto market. DOGE’s derivatives market remains weak amid suppressed futures Open Interest and perpetual funding rate.