How Bitcoin reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 30 July 2020

The short answer

Hardly a reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 0.86 times as much as in a normal 15 minutes that day. For an Initial Claims release, 1.50 times is usual. An hour later the price was 0.14% higher.

0.86x

Quiet

Trading (volume ratio)
0.77x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.67x
Price at 8:30 AM
$10,965.85
15 minutes later
−0.11%
One hour later
+0.14%
range 1.62%, hour before 0.65%
BTC/USDT, 30 minutes candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

The dashed orange line is the release. Chart data from Binance.

Open
11,064.89
Close
11,095.79
24h change
0.28%
24h high
11,170.00
24h low
10,831.00
24h volume
59,237 BTC

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 30 July 2020 at 8:30 AM EDT. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 1260K for the week ending 25th Jul, from 1393K in the week ending 18th Jul.

It arrived at the same moment as Gross Domestic Product Report and Continued Jobless Claims, so the reaction measured on this page belongs to all of them together.

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 0.86x, against 1.50x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 0.77x, against a typical 1.67x. Under 1.5x is not a reaction at all: the market barely noticed this release. Both compare the quarter hour of the release with an ordinary quarter hour that same day, where 1.00x is no change: volatility is how far the price ranged, volume how much traded.

How Bitcoin moved

Bitcoin was at $10,965.85 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.11% lower, and an hour later 0.14% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 1.62% of its price, against 0.65% in the hour before.

What made it matter

Since 2021, Initial Claims releases in the two weeks before a Fed decision have moved Bitcoin more than those at other times: a median volatility ratio of 1.65x across 94, against 1.43x across 209. This one came out the day after the Federal Reserve's 29 July rate decision. Its own ratio of 0.86x compares with 1.43x for those, so it moved the price less than its circumstances would suggest.

How it compares

Across 303 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 1.50x. This one was 0.57 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.50x. Thick line: this release, 0.86x. Under 1.5x counts as no reaction at all.

Minute by minute

Each row is the time after the release, with the same length of time before it for comparison.

After High Low Close Change Range Range before Volume
1 minute 10967.26 10965.00 10965.12 -0.01% 0.02% 0.02% 38 BTC
5 minutes 10967.26 10952.73 10955.49 -0.09% 0.13% 0.18% 178 BTC
10 minutes 10967.26 10936.82 10943.98 -0.20% 0.28% 0.27% 304 BTC
15 minutes 10967.26 10936.82 10953.81 -0.11% 0.28% 0.27% 419 BTC
30 minutes 10967.26 10932.71 10932.71 -0.30% 0.32% 0.58% 780 BTC
1 hour 11009.00 10831.00 10980.91 0.14% 1.62% 0.65% 3,694 BTC
2 hours 11040.01 10831.00 10991.36 0.23% 1.89% 0.89% 7,359 BTC
4 hours 11040.01 10831.00 10982.62 0.15% 1.89% 1.12% 11,886 BTC
6 hours 11093.00 10831.00 11075.41 0.99% 2.36% 1.24% 17,669 BTC
8 hours 11040.01 10831.00 10982.62 0.39% 1.89% 2.05% 20,794 BTC
12 hours 11170.00 10831.00 11095.79 1.17% 3.03% 2.11% 31,091 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 0.86x 1.50x Quiet
Ethereum 0.45x 1.46x Quiet
XRP 1.02x 1.18x Quiet
BNB 1.52x 1.42x Ordinary
Dogecoin 1.00x 1.38x Quiet
TRON 1.13x 1.33x Quiet
Cardano 0.96x 1.35x Quiet
Chainlink 1.01x 1.43x Quiet
Bitcoin Cash 1.26x 1.34x Quiet
Hedera 1.84x 1.32x Strong
Litecoin 1.16x 1.39x Quiet
POL (prev. MATIC) 0.40x 1.40x Quiet

What is Initial Jobless Claims?

The weekly claims report is released Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. ET by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Initial claims are new jobless claims filed by U.S. workers seeking unemployment compensation, included in the unemployment insurance weekly claims report. The report, published since 1967, includes a separate count of workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits, known as continuing claims.

Every Initial Claims release for Bitcoin

Questions about this page

Is 0.86x a lot?

No. Under 1.5x the market barely noticed the release.

Will the next Initial Claims do the same?

Nobody can say. A forecast shows the range Bitcoin moved in after past Initial Claims releases, so you can plan for the likely size of the move.

More questions · Glossary

Disclaimer

The data analysis, forecasted results and projections provided herein are based on historical price action and market trends. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, these predictions are speculative and should not be considered a guarantee of future performance. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve significant risk, and you should conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We do not assume any liability for any losses that may result from reliance on this information.