Post #15630

Dollar Rises so Far, No Supreme Court Ruling The dollar caught a bid today after U.S. jobs data came in softer than expected. The Supreme Court is deferring the ruling on Trumps tariffs. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 50K in December, below the 60K forecast, confirming that job growth is slowing. That said, the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, helping reinforce the view that the Fed can hold rates steady for now rather than rush to cut. Under the hood, participation fell and recent payroll momentum has turned negative on a three-month basis — a sign the labor market is losing traction. Markets are reading this as not hot, not cold: weak enough to keep future rate cuts on the table, but not weak enough to force immediate action. The jobs report gives the Fed flexibility, supports a near-term hold, and keeps rate cuts in play later this year — a mix that helped stabilize the dollar today. - Alan