NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls)
NFP measures US job creation outside farming. It is usually released on the first Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m. New York time.
The figure is part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly Employment Situation report, which also includes the unemployment rate and average hourly earnings. It is one of the most anticipated releases on the calendar.
The market reacts to the gap with consensus, but also to revisions of the previous two months and to wage growth. A strong headline with weak wages can send mixed signals.
The minutes that follow are often chaotic: wider spreads, slippage and violent swings on EUR/USD, USD/JPY, gold and US indices. Many traders prefer to stay flat.