The economic calendar for Asia on Friday, September 12, 2025, includes data from New Zealand and Japan, but these updates are not expected to significantly impact the markets. In finance news, the Financial Times reports a plan to impose a 15-20% minimum tariff on all EU goods. This has led to a drop in the EUR/USD exchange rate. Meanwhile, American stock indices such as the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 have reached record highs.

Jobless Claims and Stock Market Signals

A recent report shows a rise in initial jobless claims, overshadowing the Consumer Price Index data. Tesla’s stock has climbed to its highest level since February, surpassing the summer peak. This occurs as major US indices near their daily highs. A general risk warning has been issued, highlighting that foreign exchange trading carries significant risk, especially with leverage, which can increase both risks and potential losses. Prospective investors are encouraged to evaluate their goals and consult financial advisors. InvestingLive reminds users that its information is for educational purposes only, noting that past performance doesn’t guarantee future results and disclaiming liability for any losses incurred from relying on its content. With a light economic calendar in Asia tomorrow, major movements seem unlikely. Attention should instead focus on the ongoing tensions in US and European markets, indicating a shift toward potential volatility rather than clear trends in the short term. US indices like the S&P 500 have reached record highs, but signs of unease are emerging. The VIX, which measures market fear, has increased from 12 to over 15 in the past week, despite these new highs. This divergence suggests that investors might consider protective put options on broad market ETFs or call options on the VIX to guard against a possible downturn.

Tariffs and Market Strategies

The renewed threat of 15-20% tariffs on EU goods poses a significant risk to the Euro. Past trade disputes, particularly in the late 2010s, have often led to a decline in the EUR/USD exchange rate. Purchasing put options on the Euro or setting up bearish option strategies could be timely as this situation unfolds. We are also facing mixed signals from the US economy. Weekly jobless claims have surged to over 250,000, while the latest CPI inflation report remains steady at 3.1%. This uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s next moves presents opportunities in interest rate derivatives. Monitoring options on Fed Funds futures could provide a direct approach to changing monetary policy expectations in the weeks ahead. In the single-stock arena, Tesla’s share price breaking its summer high and trading above $310 signals strong momentum for traders. Although buying long-dated call options may be costly due to high implied volatility, it could capture further price increases. A more budget-friendly approach could be a call debit spread to profit from an ongoing rally. Create your live VT Markets account and start trading now.

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