BREAKING: 2025's biggest market events are happening THIS WEEK.
- Fed rate cut decision on Wednesday
- U.S. jobless claims on Thursday
- $4.9 TRILLION options expiry on Friday
3 days where fortunes will be made and lost in hours.
Here's what this means (and how to prepare):
On Wednesday, September 17, the Federal Reserve will announce its rate decision at 2:00 PM ET.
Markets are pricing in a 99% chance of a 25 basis point cut.
His press conference at 2:30 PM could change everything.
If Powell hints at even MORE cuts coming...
Altcoins could explode 10-20% overnight.
Bitcoin historically gains 15% after Fed cuts.
Ethereum and Solana often surge 20-30%.
The reason? Cheaper money floods into risk assets.
But there's a massive trap waiting:
Thursday brings jobless claims data.
Last week's number: 263,000 claims.
That's the highest since October 2021.
If it hits 275,000+ on Thursday, markets could panic.
Even Powell's dovish tone won't save crypto from a jobs collapse...
Friday is the real killer.
$4.9 trillion in options expire in one day.
That's more money than most countries' entire GDP.
When these contracts unwind, chaos follows.
The "witching hour" from 3-4 PM could see brutal selling.
Here's what happens during options expiry:
Trading volume spikes 50%.
Stocks can swing 1% in minutes.
Bitcoin often drops 5-10% short-term.
Market makers dump positions to hedge.
It's not fundamentals driving prices, it's pure mechanics.
But there's more:
The Bank of Japan also decides rates on Friday morning.
They're expected to hold at 0.5%.
But if they surprise with a hike, the yen strengthens.
That could trigger a massive "carry trade" unwind.
Billions would flow out of risk assets globally.
The timeline is brutal:
September 17: Fed rate cut decision and Powell speech
September 18: U.S. initial jobless claims
September 19: $4.9 TRILLION options expiry, BoJ rate cut decision.
Three consecutive days of market-moving events.
The interesting part?
Powell faces massive pressure from Trump for rate cuts.
But inflation just hit 2.9%, the highest in 7 months.
Core prices rose 0.3% in August.
The Fed is trapped between politics and inflation.
If Powell signals aggressive cuts:
Bitcoin could rocket past $125,000.
The S&P 500 might gain 2% in one day.
Tech stocks would lead the charge.
Gold could hit new record highs.
But it's a massive "if."
The bearish scenario could look like this:
Powell mentions "proceeding carefully."
Options expiry triggers massive selling.
Jobless claims spike above expectations.
Bitcoin crashes below $110,000.
Altcoins lose 20% in 48 hours.
The bottom line?
This isn't normal market volatility.
It's a perfect storm of monetary policy, derivatives, and economic data.
When so many different events happen in a matter of days, anything can happen.
Fortunes will be made and lost in hours.
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