In November, Greece’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.4% compared to last year, up from a 2% increase in the previous period. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on Tuesday. Predictions suggest job openings might have reached 7.2 million in October. Although a slight global slowdown is expected in 2025, both the global and European economies have shown strength in recent years. Still, the risks of recovery are growing, which could negatively affect the global economy and credit outlook in the medium term. Chainlink (LINK) held steady at the start of the week, priced around $13.70 on Tuesday. This is above a key support level, indicating stability. Keep in mind that neither the author nor FXStreet are financial advisors. This article does not offer investment advice. Higher-than-expected inflation in Greece shows that price pressures in the Eurozone may be lingering longer than anticipated. The latest Eurostat estimate for November placed headline inflation at 2.7%. This could make the European Central Bank cautious about future interest rate cuts. It may also create chances in derivatives that bet on European interest rates remaining high longer. All eyes will be on the upcoming US JOLTS report this Tuesday. Job openings have been declining from peaks above 9 million in 2023. If the number comes in significantly higher than the 7.2 million forecast, it could indicate that the labor market isn’t cooling enough for the Federal Reserve. A surprisingly strong report could put pressure on equity markets, making protective put options on indices like the S&P 500 a smart short-term strategy. The mixed data from Europe and the US creates uncertainty, which usually leads to market ups and downs. With the VIX index currently at a calm 16, option premiums are not too high. This situation could make buying straddles or strangles on major indices a cost-effective way to prepare for a big market movement following the data releases. Overall, the economic outlook suggests rising risks despite the stability we’ve seen amidst the small slowdown expected in 2025. We remember how sharply the market pulled back in 2024, affecting unhedged portfolios. This highlights the importance of risk management. Keeping some longer-term protective puts on broad market ETFs could be a wise strategy to guard against a downturn in the medium term. In the cryptocurrency world, Chainlink’s stability around $13.70 indicates a possible support level, though this may be fragile due to macroeconomic challenges. Recently, implied volatility on near-term LINK options has decreased, suggesting traders don’t foresee a big price change. This could be a chance to buy puts below this key level as a hedge or to prepare for a decline if overall market sentiment worsens.

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