Breakthrough Month for U.S. Job Market

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Oh rly?

EURUSD spot 1.3487 is getting close to its 52 week high (it last broke below 1.35 last May).

Where is this devalued dollar of which you speak?

Look the other direction. I don't see that much stuff being imported from Europe, at least on the west coast.

[scandal 951]

Look the other direction. I don't see that much stuff being imported from Europe, at least on the west coast.

USDJPY is 94.5, at the high end of a range going back to last Sept, and following a dramatic rise from a low of 85.3 set in Dec. This is still low by long term historical standards, but the current trend is a rising dollar against major world currencies, not a falling one.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

USDJPY is 94.5, at the high end of a range going back to last Sept, and following a dramatic rise from a low of 85.3 set in Dec. This is still low by long term historical standards, but the current trend is a rising dollar against major world currencies, not a falling one.

It's still weak against emerging markets and commodity based currencies. The fed has to turn around a huge pile of debt the next 12 months, and that should just about do it for this short term rally of the dollar. I don't know anybody that is going long on the dollar. The Yen and the Euro are poor yardsticks for the USD, when they are struggling as well.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It's still weak against emerging markets and commodity based currencies. The fed has to turn around a huge pile of debt the next 12 months, and that should just about do it for this short term rally of the dollar. I don't know anybody that is going long on the dollar. The Yen and the Euro are poor yardsticks for the USD, when they are struggling as well.

IMO its hard to be strong or weak when a certain currency is pegged (all be it more loosely than in the past) to the dollar......

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You have to squint real hard to see that positive sign

Yet 16.9 from 16.8 percent (-.1% change) caught someone's attention.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

IMO its hard to be strong or weak when a certain currency is pegged (all be it more loosely than in the past) to the dollar......

And Walmart, while announcing layoffs last month, started hiring this month. I don't know whether that is a good sign, or a bad sign, for the currency you are talking about.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yet 16.9 from 16.8 percent (-.1% change) caught someone's attention.

No, what caught my attention is all the hoopla about how this is some kind of breakthrough when the metrics paint a picture that can only be described as 'clear as mud'.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I take 100,000+ private sector jobs created over 750,000+ lost any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I take 100,000+ private sector jobs created over 750,000+ lost any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

No doubt.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No, what caught my attention is all the hoopla about how this is some kind of breakthrough when the metrics paint a picture that can only be described as 'clear as mud'.

In terms of the numbers of jobs created, March has been a breakthrough month, but yeah, if you take away the temporary census worker jobs, it's not as significant of an increase. Still, it's good to see the positive in all of this - particularly when many have been feeling nothing but despair for several months.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

...if you take away the temporary census worker jobs, it's not as significant of an increase.

Precisely.

Still, it's good to see the positive in all of this - particularly when many have been feeling nothing but despair for several months.

Emotional #######.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No doubt.

I know that we're rapidly shifting into hiring mode. Looking at the career mobility site on the intranet was quite sad for the last couple of years. Now, every time I look, there are more positions opening up. Running the same query, I had less than 10 search results in December. That figure is now exceeding 50 - just a few short months later. There's positive development going on in the private sector - I am quite encouraged.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Precisely.

Emotional #######.

I will continue my pessimism until I am as rich as mawilson.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I will continue my pessimism until I am as rich as mawilson.

You'll die a pessimist.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I know that we're rapidly shifting into hiring mode. Looking at the career mobility site on the intranet was quite sad for the last couple of years. Now, every time I look, there are more positions opening up. Running the same query, I had less than 10 search results in December. That figure is now exceeding 50 - just a few short months later. There's positive development going on in the private sector - I am quite encouraged.

Hopefully it is a positive sign. As the seasons head again toward summer, if industry is not getting prepared for an upturn, there won't be one. Folks can't sit on their assets forever, otherwise any recovery will pass them by. Perhaps a little cautious optimism is in order, at least in the short term. Whether or not that will turn into longterm investment is still to be seen.