(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) U.S. Inflation’s Relentless Rise Hits Fastest Pace In 39 Years!! U.S. inflation reached a nearly four-decade high in November as robust consumer demand out reached supply constraints. The Labor Department said the consumer-price index–which measures what consumers pay for goods and services–rose 6.8% in November from the same month a year ago. That was the fastest pace since 1982 and the sixth straight month in which inflation topped 5%. … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Powell turns a bit… ‘hawkish’…. Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell sounded more like a hawk this past week…for the first time since late 2018. Appearing before Congress, Powell’ explicitly dropped his prior characterization of inflation pressures as “transitory.” Saying the threat of persistently higher inflation has grown, that the Fed would consider wrapping up asset purchases a few months early. He was clear that his ‘hawkish’ tone didn’t incorporate … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Black Friday is known nationwide as a day for gigantic markdowns…but not like these. Stocks, commodities, government bonds yields, oil prices dived on Black Friday after news of a new coronavirus virus variant from South Africa, dubbed Omicron. Concerns and fears of a ‘new’ wave of the new pandemic quickly emerged as markets were ‘thin’ on Friday as investors toyed with news. Most of the ‘important people were off … Read more…