The two largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), have been marking time in a consolidation range, but with a positive bias, since the holiday season and into early 2023. This leaves these markets poised into the always much-watched US Employment report and here we look at potential range breakout and trigger points for BTC and ETH.
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US Employment Focus After a Busy Macro Week
Today the global financial markets are very much focussed on the always much-watched release of the US Employment report, encompassing the key Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) data. Consensus, according to Bloomberg is for Average Hourly Earnings to come in at 0.4% MoM, 5.0% YoY, the Unemployment Rate to be at 3.7% and for the usually key Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) release to be at 200K.
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However, according to data released on Thursday from ADP Research Institute in collaboration with Stanford Digital Economy Lab, higher-than-expected private payrolls pf 235K last month and an upward revision of 182,000 for November, exceeded all but one forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists.
This sets up global financial markets including cryptocurrencies for a key session Friday in the wake of a busy start to the year this week that has included the release of the Minutes from the December Fed Meeting and global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data from S&P Global and US PMI data from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM).
Bitcoin Prospects and Trigger Levels
On wider outlook, BTC remains caught within a wider trading range defined by the latter November bear cycle low at 15480 and the mid-December recovery peak at 18369. Near term breakout levels are 17052 to the upside, through which would encourage a move towards 18369. On the downside, below 16343/ 16277 would target the 202 low at 15480.
Ether Prospects and Trigger Levels
ETH is also caught between broader range parameters at 1351, the December recovery peak and the basing supports gathered at 1151. Between these levels, we see breakout trigger points at 1271 above and 1181 below. ETH carries a more positive bias than BTC in the very short term, from the more robust rally seen on Wednesday to push above resistance at 1237.
YOUR CAPITAL IS AT RISK. 76% OF RETAIL CFD ACCOUNTS LOSE MONEY.