The US Non-Farm Payroll report is a popular day for professional traders. The day usually brings a sharp move the moment the report is released on the first Friday of the month at 8:30 AM (EST). Traders usually like to take advantage of the sharp move and close out a position seconds, minutes, or hours later. However, if you hold on for too long, you might be disappointed, as the moves may come back to earth. Be prepared with some statistics for the ETFs that track the S&P 500 (SPY), Gold, (GLD), and US Ten Year Treasury Rates (IEF). The numbers below represent, in absolute value, the size of the moves of the given category. For example, the overnight move (Day Before Close to Open on NFP) for SPY (S&P500) is on average $1.78 up or down. So if you are making a directional trade or a volatility play, understand the size of the move you can expect.
| Ticker | Spot Price | Open to Close on NFP Day | Day Before Close to Open on NFP Day | Day Before Close to Close on NFP Day | Typical 1 Standard Deviation 1 Day |
| SPY | $177.04 | $1.30 | $1.78 | $1.35 | $2.15 |
| GLD | $121.20 | $0.80 | $1.60 | $1.25 | $1.59 |
| IEF | $101.75 | $0.24 | $0.35 | $0.26 | $0.46 |
Don’t let trades outlive their usefulness.
Good luck and trade rationally.