PPI Surprise Adds Heat to Pre-Confidence Calm

Hotter than expected PPI data just landed in US trading. Producer prices jumped to eleven point one percent year over year, well above the prior seven point five percent reading. This isn't the cooling signal the market was hoping for with consumer confidence due any minute. The S&P sits flat near seventy three forty while the VIX edges just three tenths of a percent higher at seventeen point three five, telling us the inflation pulse is keeping volatility on edge but not yet breaking the range. For Iron Condor traders, the short put side sees modest downside risk compression from the de-escalation backdrop Russell flagged this morning, yet the short call side now looks more capped as hotter PPI could limit upside if it feeds into hotter CPI expectations. VixShield's RSAi remains on hold with no new strikes, while ALVH stays on standby above this VIX level ready to activate if confidence prints spark a real move. Watch European markets for any follow through reaction in the Euro Stoxx as the session unfolds. That's going to be interesting to watch. catch it now at /podcast.