If you’re trading this week, buckle up—volatility’s on the menu. Between central bank decisions and high-stakes U.S. jobs data, markets will be bouncing as traders try to guess the Fed’s next move. Strong numbers could keep the dollar flexing and stocks sweating, while any weakness might give risk assets (and maybe even crypto) some breathing room.
Here are the 3 events you really need to watch:
🇦🇺 Sep 30 – Australia Interest Rate Decision
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kicks off the week with its policy call. While not as globally dominant as the Fed, RBA moves often ripple through Asia-Pacific FX and commodities. If the RBA stays hawkish, expect pressure on AUD/USD pairs. A dovish surprise? Risk-on traders may find opportunities across equities and even metals like gold.
🇺🇸 Oct 03 – U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP)
This is the big one. NFP is the single most watched labor market report worldwide. It tells us how many jobs the U.S. economy added (or lost) in September.
Hot print (strong hiring): Traders may price in fewer Fed cuts, lifting the dollar and yields—usually a headwind for stocks and crypto.
Cool print (weak jobs): Rate-cut chatter heats up, risk assets catch a bid, and gold might shine.
If you only watch one release this week, make it NFP.
🇺🇸 Oct 03 – U.S. ISM Services PMI
Think of this as a pulse check on the backbone of the U.S. economy—services make up about 70% of U.S. GDP. A strong PMI signals resilient growth, which could back up a hawkish Fed stance. Weak numbers suggest the economy is cooling, fueling rate-cut hopes. Traders often overlook this one, but it can be just as market-moving as jobs data—especially for equities.
👉 Bottom line: It’s a jobs-heavy week with a splash of central bank drama. Expect swings across FX, stocks, commodities, and crypto. Don’t get caught flat-footed.
