USD/JPY: tanks to 113.63 low post nonfarm payrolls headline miss, Fed hike still on?

USD/JPY is once again rejected from the territory on the 114 handle in the wake of a miss in the nonfarm payrolls headline and wages and a drop in the participation rate. However, the unemployment is the lowest since 2001, but the lower participation rate needs to be acknowledged in that regard. 

Here is the detail of the nonfarm payrolls report:

• Headline: 252K vs +302K expected
• Unemployment rate: 4.1% vs 4.2% expected (lowest since 2001)
• Participation rate: 62.7% vs 63.1% prior
• Average hourly earnings m/m 0.0% vs +0.2% expected
• Average hourly earnings y/y 2.4% vs +2.7% expected

While there was a miss in the headline, analysts at ING explained there were a net 90,000 upward revisions, so on balance, it is a strong report and backs the case for a December rate hike.

US: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 261,000 in October

On wages, the analysts explained that the fact that underemployment is now just 7.9% (down from 8.3% last month) really underlines how strong the jobs market is, meaning that the balance of risks must lie to the upside on wage growth from here. 

The case for a Dec Fed hike

"With the economy growing strongly and tax reform likely to add further fuel to the fire, the case for higher US interest rates continues to build. Barring an economically damaging government shutdown in early December we expect the Fed to hike rates on Dec 13 with at least two further rate rises probable under new Fed Chair Jerome Powell next year," the analysts at ING argued.

USD/JPY levels

Analysts at Commerzbank note that USD/JPY continues to face the top of the range at 114.38/67 (May and July highs were made and the 2015-2017 downtrend) and the risk remains for failure here:

"However upside risks are growing longer term and while dips lower are contained by 111.73/83 (the 200-day ma and the 55-week ma) an upside bias will persist. A close above 114.67 will introduce scope to the 118.60/66 January high." The analysts suggested that 113,50 is an area of support, while further to the downside, 111.80, the 55-day SMA guards the 109.55 mid-September low and in turn, this support guards the 108.81/13 April and June lows as well as the September low at 107.32.