How Bitcoin reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 28 December 2017

The short answer

Hardly a reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 1.07 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 0.69% higher.

1.07x

Quiet

Trading (volume ratio)
0.95x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.67x
Price at 8:30 AM
$13,883.98
15 minutes later
−0.16%
One hour later
+0.69%
range 3.16%, hour before 4.11%
BTC/USDT, 1 hour candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

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

Open
15,394.67
Close
14,119.99
24h change
-9.03%
24h high
15,453.66
24h low
13,150.00
24h volume
21,750 BTC

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 28 December 2017 at 8:30 AM EST. Initial Jobless Claims rose to 251K for the week ending 23rd Dec, from 244K in the week ending 16th Dec.

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

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 1.07x, against 1.50x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 0.95x, 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 $13,883.98 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.16% lower, and an hour later 0.69% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 3.16% of its price, against 4.11% 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 was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 1.07x 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 0.71 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.50x. Thick line: this release, 1.07x. 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 13935.00 13859.62 13928.87 0.32% 0.54% 0.54% 10 BTC
5 minutes 13973.04 13800.25 13800.25 -0.61% 1.24% 1.18% 64 BTC
10 minutes 13973.04 13730.00 13851.00 -0.24% 1.74% 1.46% 125 BTC
15 minutes 13973.04 13730.00 13861.11 -0.16% 1.74% 1.46% 180 BTC
30 minutes 13973.04 13730.00 13877.69 -0.05% 1.74% 1.81% 298 BTC
1 hour 13999.00 13560.09 13980.00 0.69% 3.14% 4.06% 713 BTC
2 hours 14305.00 13560.09 14195.89 2.20% 5.21% 6.27% 1,526 BTC
4 hours 14305.00 13560.00 13573.22 -2.29% 5.21% 8.35% 2,984 BTC
6 hours 14305.00 13190.00 13672.18 -1.55% 7.79% 8.35% 4,923 BTC
8 hours 14348.22 13150.00 13573.22 -4.86% 8.35% 13.17% 6,963 BTC
12 hours 14399.00 13190.00 14119.99 1.67% 8.40% 14.91% 8,119 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 1.07x 1.50x Quiet
Ethereum 1.59x 1.46x Ordinary
BNB 1.14x 1.42x Quiet
Litecoin 0.98x 1.39x 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 1.07x 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.