Tuesday Target | 15/52
Radio Silence? Not Quite.
I don't even know where to begin. I'm trying to block out the noise, but part of my job is tuning in — checking what others say to spot contrarian signals, or at least learning how not to think so we stay profitable. But wow... when I was a kid, loudmouth know-it-alls with half-baked ideas were considered outlaws.
Today, everyone’s an economist — just like everyone turned virologist overnight during Covid. And guess what? They're usually wrong. But we can't blame the human brain; it's like being mad at ants for not understanding their colony’s structure. These systems have lives of their own, and invisible, self-regulating forces generally keep things balanced in the long run.
Check our Tuesday Target below to learn how to hedge your portfolio — even if everyone else thinks it's too late. It’s not. Now’s actually a great time to thoughtfully step back in. Option strategies are juicy, and syncing them perfectly with your equity holdings might just create your best financial symphony yet.
Below, as always, the minimum we need to know to get a feel for what’s cooking:
Tariff Pause Rip — Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Trump dropped a 90-day reciprocal tariff pause for most nations (excluding China), and markets went vertical. The President’s tone shifted from firebrand to negotiator overnight, and just like that, everyone pretended the last few weeks didn’t happen. But if you think this is stability, think again. This is reactive relief, not resolution. The trade war is just entering Act II.
China’s Strike Back Is Measured, Not Weak
Don’t misread Beijing’s delay in retaliating. Instead of immediate escalation, they dropped an 84% effective tariff — and paired it with a 28,000-character white paper urging diplomacy. This is positioning, not capitulation. China’s playing the long game with a narrative that appeals to global investors: “We’re stable, cooperative, and rational.”
Liquidity Likely Improving
A soft pivot is in motion. While not everyone on the FOMC agrees, the balance sheet unwind is likely to slow. This matters. Tapering QT — especially with this kind of geopolitical noise — is like gently releasing the parking brake on a truck rolling toward a cliff. It’s not stimulus... but it keeps things from snapping.
Dollar Richer — Productivity Lower
Reserve currency status made America rich... but lazy. Decades of cheap imports and lower borrowing costs have papered over a steady erosion of industrial productivity. Trump’s agenda, intentionally or not, is exposing that imbalance. If tariffs do stick, expect capital to flow back into domestic manufacturing — but not without growing pains.
Get Rich Overnight with Options? Yeah Right...
TUESDAY TARGET: If you think this is just a sugar high and the NASDAQ might reverse or at least stay choppy from here, a bearish-leaning iron condor could be a smart hedge. If the NASDAQ keeps ripping, you can roll the strategy into next month, lift the put side to reduce overall spend, and might end up with a free hedge in the mediocre case — or even cash in later on a pullback.
All our recent trades and the reasoning behind them can be found in the Trade Alerts section. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes look into our process, so you can decide if it’s worth adopting (or adapting) in your own strategy.
Curious about how these trades fit into our broader portfolio approach — or how you might apply similar strategies yourself? Book a free 20-minute call to discuss whatever’s on your mind — from honing your edge to improving risk management or even brainstorming new opportunities.
Please note, all content is for educational purposes and isn't personalized for individual portfolios or financial advice. Curious about putting any of these ideas into action? Juri von Randow is here to offer guidance or connect you with the right resources.