Why does the US jobs report move USD/SGD so much?

It shifts interest rate expectations. A softer report can increase odds of earlier Fed cuts, which usually weakens the dollar. A stronger report can push yields up and lift USD. USD/SGD tends to react within seconds, then follows global risk sentiment as equities and bonds reprice.

What parts of the nonfarm payrolls forecast matter most?

Three items drive the move: the headline payroll change, average hourly earnings, and prior‑month revisions. The headline sets the first spike. Wages and revisions shape the next phase by changing the inflation and policy path. Traders watch all three to confirm or fade the initial reaction.

How should Singapore traders prepare for USD volatility tonight?

Define scenarios and entries in advance, keep position sizes small, and avoid overlapping USD risk across pairs. Use limit orders, not market orders, near the release. Wait for spreads to normalize after the first minute, then confirm direction across major pairs before adding or placing protective stops.

Which Singapore sectors are most sensitive to the jobs print?

Rate‑sensitive names usually move first. REITs and growth stocks often benefit if yields fall after a soft report. Banks may gain if a hot report lifts yields and supports margins. Exporters react to demand signals from wages and hours worked, which can foreshadow US consumption trends.

Global Market Insights

February 12: White House Cools Jobs Hopes, FX Traders Brace for Volatility

ByHuzaifa Zahoor February 12, 2026February 12, 2026

The US jobs report takes center stage today after the White House signaled smaller January payroll gains. That shift cools the nonfarm payrolls forecast and puts USD volatility back on the radar for Singapore traders. A softer print could lift rate‑cut hopes, sway USD/SGD, and ripple through local banks, REITs, and exporters. We lay out scenarios, timing, and trade ideas for the 9:30 pm SGT release, plus the key cues to watch on the Forex Factory calendar and in US equity futures.