How Bitcoin reacted to Initial Jobless Claims on 29 March 2018

The short answer

Hardly a reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 0.87 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 0.06% higher.

0.87x

Quiet

Trading (volume ratio)
0.81x
usual for Initial Claims: 1.67x
Price at 8:30 AM
$7,508.71
15 minutes later
+0.00%
One hour later
+0.06%
range 1.01%, hour before 1.87%
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
7,908.00
Close
7,009.88
24h change
-12.81%
24h high
7,975.00
24h low
6,941.11
24h volume
56,068 BTC

The release

Released by the Department of Labor on 29 March 2018 at 8:30 AM EDT. Initial Jobless Claims fell to 221K for the week ending 24th Mar, from 225K in the week ending 17th Mar.

It arrived at the same moment as Personal Income and Outlays, Personal Consumption Expenditures, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures 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 0.87x, against 1.50x for a typical Initial Claims release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 0.81x, 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 $7,508.71 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was unchanged, and an hour later 0.06% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 1.01% of its price, against 1.87% 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 0.87x 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 0.58 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: Initial Claims's usual, 1.50x. Thick line: this release, 0.87x. 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 7511.96 7500.97 7504.73 -0.05% 0.15% 0.12% 15 BTC
5 minutes 7511.96 7474.00 7485.00 -0.32% 0.51% 0.33% 112 BTC
10 minutes 7511.96 7461.00 7481.01 -0.37% 0.68% 0.55% 240 BTC
15 minutes 7511.96 7461.00 7508.80 0.00% 0.68% 0.64% 350 BTC
30 minutes 7518.00 7461.00 7500.00 -0.12% 0.76% 1.39% 637 BTC
1 hour 7537.00 7461.00 7513.00 0.06% 1.01% 1.86% 1,148 BTC
2 hours 7537.00 7344.00 7351.00 -2.15% 2.56% 1.86% 3,781 BTC
4 hours 7580.00 7334.00 7512.68 0.05% 3.25% 2.13% 8,439 BTC
6 hours 7580.00 7334.00 7429.89 -1.06% 3.25% 2.94% 11,459 BTC
8 hours 7587.00 7334.00 7512.68 -0.34% 3.33% 6.56% 15,011 BTC
12 hours 7580.00 6941.11 7009.88 -7.12% 8.43% 6.89% 33,899 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for Initial Claims Reaction
Bitcoin 0.87x 1.50x Quiet
Ethereum 0.69x 1.46x Quiet
BNB 0.80x 1.42x Quiet
Litecoin 0.95x 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 0.87x 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 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.