How Bitcoin reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 11 August 2022

The short answer

An exceptional reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 3.42 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 0.10% higher.

3.42x

Exceptional

Trading (volume ratio)
4.33x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.67x
Price at 8:30 AM
$24,613.83
15 minutes later
+0.30%
One hour later
+0.10%
range 1.57%, hour before 0.85%
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
23,945.12
Close
23,877.62
24h change
-0.28%
24h high
24,918.54
24h low
23,761.84
24h volume
250,374 BTC

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 3.42x, against 1.50x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 4.33x, against a typical 1.67x. That is more than twice what this release usually does. 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 $24,613.83 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.3% higher, and an hour later 0.1% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 1.57% of its price, against 0.85% in the hour before.

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 11 August 2022 at 8:30 AM EDT. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 221K for the week ending 6th Aug, from 228K in the week ending 30th Jul.

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

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 3.42x compares with 1.43x for those, so it moved the price more than its circumstances alone would suggest.

Its record

Across 303 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's median volatility ratio is 1.50x.

How it compares

Across 303 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 1.50x. This one was 2.27 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.50x. Thick line: this release, 3.42x.

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 24918.54 24612.37 24779.30 0.67% 1.23% 0.28% 2,711 BTC
5 minutes 24918.54 24531.05 24614.16 0.00% 1.56% 0.38% 5,934 BTC
10 minutes 24918.54 24531.05 24738.36 0.50% 1.56% 0.48% 8,456 BTC
15 minutes 24918.54 24531.05 24687.93 0.30% 1.56% 0.57% 9,995 BTC
30 minutes 24918.54 24531.05 24862.02 1.00% 1.56% 0.76% 14,590 BTC
1 hour 24918.54 24531.05 24637.22 0.09% 1.56% 0.85% 23,036 BTC
2 hours 24918.54 24528.29 24639.00 0.10% 1.57% 1.18% 38,797 BTC
4 hours 24918.54 24255.72 24371.31 -1.00% 2.66% 1.43% 67,965 BTC
6 hours 24918.54 24084.96 24197.96 -1.72% 3.35% 1.62% 87,812 BTC
8 hours 24918.54 24255.72 24371.31 -0.35% 2.66% 3.36% 101,605 BTC
12 hours 24918.54 23761.84 23877.62 -3.08% 4.64% 3.36% 130,316 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 3.42x 1.50x Exceptional
Ethereum 2.88x 1.46x Strong
XRP 3.13x 1.18x Exceptional
BNB 2.57x 1.42x Strong
Solana 2.24x 1.38x Strong
Dogecoin 2.72x 1.38x Strong
TRON 2.47x 1.33x Strong
Cardano 2.59x 1.35x Strong
Chainlink 2.14x 1.43x Strong
Bitcoin Cash 2.69x 1.34x Exceptional
Hedera 1.59x 1.32x Ordinary
Avalanche 2.14x 1.42x Strong
Litecoin 2.41x 1.39x Strong
Shiba Inu 2.15x 1.33x Strong
Uniswap 2.84x 1.34x Exceptional
Polkadot 2.46x 1.32x Strong
Aave 1.82x 1.38x Strong
NEAR Protocol 2.48x 1.24x Strong
Internet Computer 1.67x 1.45x Ordinary
POL (prev. MATIC) 2.55x 1.40x Strong
Filecoin 1.88x 1.27x Strong

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 3.42x a lot?

For an Initial Claims release it is exceptional: the usual is 1.50x. Each report has its own usual size, and its releases show it.

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 ยท 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.