How Bitcoin reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 13 February 2020

The short answer

An exceptional reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 4.79 times as much as in a normal 15 minutes that day. For an Initial Claims release, 1.52 times is usual. An hour later the price was unchanged.

4.79x

Exceptional

Trading (volume ratio)
6.57x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.68x
Price at 8:30 AM
$10,277.69
15 minutes later
+1.40%
One hour later
+0.03%
range 3.66%, hour before 1.38%
BTC/USDT, 15 minutes candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

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

Open
10,367.21
Close
10,240.44
24h change
-1.24%
24h high
10,500.00
24h low
10,080.00
24h volume
79,918 BTC

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 4.79x, against 1.52x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 6.57x, against a typical 1.68x. 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 $10,277.69 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 1.4% higher, and an hour later unchanged. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 3.66% of its price, against 1.38% in the hour before.

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 13 February 2020 at 8:30 AM EST. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 202K for the week ending 8th Feb, from 207K in the week ending 1st Feb.

It arrived at the same moment as Consumer Price Index, Core Consumer Price Index, Core Inflation Rate 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 1.68x across 92, against 1.43x across 204. This one was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 4.79x compares with 1.43x for those, so it moved the price more than its circumstances alone would suggest.

Its record

Across 296 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's median volatility ratio is 1.52x.

How it compares

Across 296 Initial Claims releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 1.52x. This one was 3.16 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.52x. Thick line: this release, 4.79x.

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 10289.13 10275.45 10286.92 0.09% 0.13% 0.16% 58 BTC
5 minutes 10354.21 10275.45 10326.49 0.47% 0.76% 0.27% 816 BTC
10 minutes 10441.99 10275.45 10434.44 1.50% 1.59% 0.41% 2,225 BTC
15 minutes 10470.00 10275.45 10421.26 1.38% 1.86% 0.55% 3,812 BTC
30 minutes 10500.00 10183.33 10199.00 -0.77% 3.02% 0.86% 8,104 BTC
1 hour 10500.00 10123.60 10280.69 0.03% 3.58% 1.38% 14,298 BTC
2 hours 10500.00 10123.60 10252.67 -0.24% 3.58% 2.14% 17,659 BTC
4 hours 10500.00 10123.60 10174.31 -1.02% 3.58% 2.14% 23,630 BTC
6 hours 10500.00 10123.60 10262.99 -0.14% 3.58% 3.35% 27,462 BTC
8 hours 10500.00 10080.00 10174.31 0.17% 4.00% 3.73% 38,930 BTC
12 hours 10500.00 10123.60 10240.44 -0.36% 3.58% 3.92% 35,910 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 4.79x 1.52x Exceptional
Ethereum 2.50x 1.47x Strong
XRP 2.01x 1.18x Strong
BNB 1.99x 1.42x Strong
Dogecoin 2.28x 1.39x Strong
TRON 2.26x 1.33x Strong
Cardano 1.08x 1.35x Quiet
Chainlink 1.97x 1.43x Strong
Bitcoin Cash 2.75x 1.34x Exceptional
Hedera 0.48x 1.32x Quiet
Litecoin 2.70x 1.38x Strong
POL (prev. MATIC) 2.70x 1.42x 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 4.79x a lot?

For an Initial Claims release it is exceptional: the usual is 1.52x. 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.