Given the U.S. Federal Reserve's focus on jobs creation as a key metric governing the pace of its quantitative easing measures it was not surprising that a weaker-than anticipated jobs number caused a sell-off in the U.S. dollar. However, signs the U.S. economy is doing far better than many of its rivals suggests an end to the U.S. dollar's rally is not yet over.
Forex markets were anticipating a non-farm payrolls number of 180,000-210,000 with plenty of U.S. Dollar Index (NYBOT:DXU13) longs ahead of its release. In the end it was a much more modest 162,000 leaving the bulls disappointed. But that was just one piece of data, albeit an important one.
Other measures for the U.S. economy are encouraging despite sequestration. The U.S. real estate market is recovering and the Institute for Supply Management said its index of factory activity shot up to 55.4 in July, up from 50.9 in June. Q2 U.S. GDP growth registered a better than expected annualized growth rate of 1.7% and 2012 growth was revised up to 2.8% from 2.2%.
It is also worth noting that jobs numbers tend to be a lagging indicator. So if the U.S. continues recovering the jobs numbers are likely to follow suggesting that some U.S. NFP numbers could be quite strong in the months ahead.
GBP/USD chart
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Real interest rates are a threat to growth
A strengthening recovery should therefore lead to the Fed's quantitative easing program being gradually phased out – strongly supportive for dollar. Nonetheless, it doesn't come without considerable risks, which central bankers are well aware of.
Though not particularly new, but nonetheless catching on with central bankers, is providing long-term forward guidance on interest rates. By stating that they will remain low for many years should help reduce the very likely growth sapping rises in 'real' interest rates paid by businesses and households as QE is withdrawn. If central bankers can manage that transition without damaging the economy, they will have pulled off quite a stunt.
But for the time being at least the U.S. remains one of the more attractive economies as does the U.S. dollar in terms of currencies. Most of Europe's economies still have a lot of catching up to do in terms of matching U.S. growth, China is going through a self-imposed cleansing process to rid speculative excesses and Japan has only just embarked on its own monetary experiment, which could still go very wrong.
About the Author
Justin Pugsley is the forex and gold markets analyst for New Zealand-based trading platform provider MahiFX. He is a keen student of markets, economics and history. Prior to working with MahiFX, Justin worked for a number of leading media organisations such as Thomson-Reuters and Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal.