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#NFPTestsSeptHikeOdds US economic data is sending mixed signals ahead of Friday’s August payroll report. Manufacturing remained in expansion territory, but the ISM index declined from 55.6 to 54.6. July JOLTS job openings reached 7.27 million, missing the 7.31 million consensus while improving from June’s revised figure. These numbers suggest the economy is slowing at the margin without showing a clear collapse in labor demand. Markets are currently assigning roughly a two-thirds probability to a 25-basis-point September rate hike. Friday’s payroll growth, unemployment rate, wages and revisions could therefore trigger meaningful moves in Treasury yields, the dollar, equities and Bitcoin. A strong report would reinforce the case for tighter policy, while a weak report could reduce hike expectations. My view is that wage growth and prior-month revisions may matter as much as the headline payroll number. Traders should also expect the initial market reaction to reverse if the details contradict the headline.