Lawrence G. McMillan reviews the options market in his weekly column for December 21.

Professional system trader Art Collins shares his daily biases in the index, bonds and currency futures markets for December 21.

Commodities reached a new high yesterday – another solid hit from the fist of inflation. Inflation reeled, and then delivered a jab – foreclosures rose 68% in November, and then another jab – home construction is at the lowest level in 16 years.

Tim Bourquin interviews Wade Hansen, who talks about how he sells deep in-the-money calls to hedge his currency positions.

Trading gives us lessons not only about what to do or not to do next time in a trade, but also life lessons about personality traits that could improve the rest of our lives too.

Professional system trader Art Collins shares his daily biases in the index, bonds and currency futures markets for December 20.

Consumers can’t make money from rising house prices. And they can’t borrow money either. All they can do is to spend the money they earn. Ouch. Ouch. Yes, a recession is probably on the way.

If it is true that Americans are the world’s champion consumers, and if it is true that China imports much of its commodities for the purpose of making stuff for Americans, won’t Chinese demand go down with U.S. consumption? And won’t commodity prices crash rather than soar?

The most market-moving piece of information from the BOE minutes will be the vote count, as just a few additional motions for a rate cut than traders are expecting could lead investors to ramp up speculation that the BOE will indeed make monetary policy more accommodative again in January.

Following the FOMC’s 25 basis point cut on December 11, the committee's policy statement made a point of keeping all options open when it comes to the next meeting in January.