December Jobs Report Could Signal Fed Pause Ahead

Market watchers are zeroing in on the upcoming jobs data. BofA's forecast shows December payrolls potentially hitting 70,000—outpacing the 54,000 consensus estimate. Education and healthcare are tipped as the main drivers.

Here's where it gets interesting for markets: if the unemployment rate dips to 4.5% from 4.6%, the Fed likely stays sidelined on rate cuts. That kind of labor market resilience typically signals the central bank has room to hold steady and assess inflation developments further.

For crypto traders watching macro trends, Fed policy shifts remain one of the biggest wildcards. A "hold" stance keeps liquidity conditions stable, while any pivot would reshape market dynamics significantly.