QQQ and Nasdaq 100 stocks continue to lead the market since the April low. QQQ extended higher and crossed the upper Bollinger Band on Wednesday for an uptrend signal. A breadth indicator also flipped bullish, which means the Nasdaq 100 indicator group is now net bullish (four of five). There are three indicator groups totaling 15 indicators. All indicators covering the S&P 500 and

SPY and QQQ continue to lead the market with leading breakouts in mid May. Small-caps surged over the last five days, but the S&P SmallCap 600 SPDR (IJR) remains below its falling 200-day SMA. IJR is also showing relative weakness. Despite strength and leadership in large-caps and large-cap techs, many are looking quite

Despite the stock market surge from early April to early June, only a handful of stock ETFs are outperforming alternative asset ETFs. Commodity and crypto related ETFs account for twelve of the twenty year-to-date leaders in the all-weather ETF list, which has 74 ETFs. The year-to-date percentage change (YTD %Chg) is perfect for measuring performance because is encompasses the stock market

The broader market remains mixed with fewer than 50% of S&P 1500 stocks in long-term uptrends. Strength is concentrated in large-caps and large-cap tech stocks (Nasdaq 100). Several tech ETFs formed flag/pennant patterns the last two weeks and broke out. In an interesting twist, we are also seeing strength in Consumer Staples and Utilities, two defensive groups. Commodities remain strong, especially metals. Silver and Platinum broke out, while Palladium turned up.

There is no change for the broad market environment, which is mixed, at best, and still bearish at worst. The weight of the evidence turns bearish in mid March and this signal has yet to be reversed. Keep in mind that SPY and QQQ are part of the broad market environment, but they are large-cap driven ETFs that do not always reflect conditions under the surface. Breadth indicators reflect conditions for the average stock.

Even though small-caps and mid-caps are dragging their feet, Nasdaq 100 stocks are leading with the highest percentage above their 200-day SMAs. This is a positive sign for large-cap stocks and stocks in the Technology sector. In addition, SPY and QQQ are holding their May 12th breakouts and 200-day SMA. Again, this is positive for large-caps and tech stocks. Small-caps and mid-caps are still

Today’s report covers commodity ETFs and the Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), simply because they are leading in 2025. Year-to-date, nine of the top ten performing ETFs are commodity or crypto related. My focus list has 74 ETFs covering equities, commodities, bonds and crypto. The Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is the only equity ETF in the top ten right now. The table below shows the 20 ETFs with

SPY, QQQ and XLK are leading the surge as their gap-breakouts hold. The broader market, however, remains mixed as small-caps and mid-caps lag. New highs are starting to appear with cybersecurity, defense and telecom leading the way. We are also seeing relative strength in blockchain and software. Precious metals remain strong with platinum joining the breakout parade. Copper perked up and Bitcoin is trading near new highs.

The broad market environment is mixed, at best, and still bearish at worst. Keep in mind that SPY and QQQ are part of the broad market environment, but they are large-cap driven ETFs that do not always reflect conditions under the surface. Breadth indicators reflect conditions for the average stock. Just over 50% of S&P 500 stocks are above their 150 and 200 day SMAs. This

Here we go again. Negative tariff news on Friday weighed on stocks, and positive tariff news lifted stocks on Monday-Tuesday. Last week’s drop and today’s pop do not change the situation in the markets. SPY and QQQ broke out with gap-surges on May 12th. Even though May 12th represents another tariff-related event, these breakouts and gaps are holding, and bullish until proven otherwise. Short-term, stocks were

PGM stands for the platinum group of metals, which includes ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum. These metals have similar properties and are usually found together when mining. Palladium is a key metal for catalytic converters, and is also used in electronics and dental alloys. Platinum is mostly used for jewelry, and also for catalytic converters.

Stocks were hit as SPY fell 1.69%, its largest 1-day decline since April 21st, which was just before the Zweig Breadth Thrust. We do not need to look far for the reasons. First, stocks were short-term overbought after the surge from April 22nd to May 20th. SPY was up over 16% in 20 days. Second, the 30-yr Treasury Yield surged above 5% and hit a new high

Stocks started improving with the Zweig Breadth Thrust on April 24th and continued with a bullish 5/200 cross. Despite a strong advance, breadth has yet to expand to levels that signal a bull market. SPY and QQQ are holding their gaps and 200-day SMAs, but short-term overbought after big moves. We will show the key levels to watch. Elsewhere, year-to-date performance highlights the true leaders and metals are perking up.

It seems as if there are conflicting signals in the stock market. The Zweig Breadth Thrust triggered bullish on April 24th and the 5/200 Filter Cross triggered bullish on May 15th, but the long-term trend and breadth indicators remain decidedly bearish. NDX %Above 200-day SMA ($NDXA200R) is the only indicator (of 15) to trigger bullish.

The bullish evidence continues to build, but the long-term breadth indicators have yet to turn net bullish. SPY and QQQ showed signs of capitulation in early April and rebounded into mid April. A Zweig Breadth Thrust triggered on April 24th and several other thrust indicators turned bullish in May. We also saw SPY, QQQ and RSP break their 200-day SMAs. These are bullish indications for large-caps and, perhaps

SPY and QQQ hit their moment of truth in early May – and then powered through their March support breaks with gap-surges on Monday. These were the moves that reversed the long-term downtrends. Even though the long-term breadth indicators have yet to signal a bull market, SPY and QQQ are in uptrends, as our four big sectors. This is clearly positive for stocks, and

Stocks extended after the Zweig Breadth Thrust signals in late April with SPY and QQQ negating their March support breaks. Tech-related ETFs made sharp U-turns with leading moves over the last five weeks. Despite impressive gains, these ETFs are short-term overbought. Elsewhere, gold and silver are consolidating after big gains, IBIT extended on its breakout and ITA hit a new high.

Stocks plunged in historic fashion with long-term breadth indicators reaching extremes in early April. Stocks then surged in historic fashion with a Zweig Breadth Thrust and steep advance. The plunge is like stretching a rubber band and the rebound is the effect of letting go. The further the stretch, the bigger the snap back.

The thrust continued on Monday with SPY surging 3.3% and the percentage of S&P 1500 stocks above their 50-day SMA hitting its highest level since December 2nd. The chart below shows an update for the S&P 1500 Zweig Breadth Thrust strategy. A bullish thrust triggered on April 24th and SPY extended above

SPY and QQQ are in a short-term uptrend that include a Zweig Breadth Thrust on April 24th. Even though the long-term trends and breadth indicators remain bearish, this short-term uptrend remains in play as long as the wedges rise in SPY and QQQ. As noted in these first charts, I am looking for confirmation from S&P 1500 Percent Above 50-day SMA ($SUPA50R) as the

The weight of the evidence is mixed, at best for the stock market. Our long-term trend and breadth indicators are bearish, but we did get short-term thrust signals towards the end of April. These signals remain in play so we will update the key levels to watch. Despite a record rebound the last few weeks, the March breakdowns remain and the short-term upswings look like counter-trend bounces. Stocks are also short-term overbought. Strategically, the long-term downtrends and bear market are negative. Tactically, upside could be limited as resistance levels come into play and short-term conditions become overbought.

This market regime report weighs the evidence to determine the state of the stock market. Are we in a bull market or bear market? We start with the long-term trends for three major index ETFs (SPY,QQQ,RSP). Attention then turns to breadth indicators to measure the percentage of stocks in uptrends/downtrends and the percentage hitting new highs/lows. These indicators

The weight of the evidence is mixed, at best for the stock market. Our long-term trend and breadth indicators are bearish, but we did get short-term thrust signals towards the end of April. These signals remain in play so we will update the key levels to watch. Despite a record rebound the last few weeks, the March breakdowns remain and the short-term upswings look

Chartists can also use the 200-day SMA and the direction of the 200-day SMA to compare performance. ETFs trading above their rising 200-day SMAs are performing better than those trading below their falling 200-day SMAs. Overall, 23 of the 72 core ETFs are trading above their rising 200-day SMAs.

Today’s video starts with the long-term trend and breadth indicators to define the broad market environment. We then turn to the Zweig Breadth Thrust and show the key SPY levels to watch going forward. Stocks are all over the place in April, but a handful of leaders emerged with uptrends, relative strength and breakouts. Elsewhere, the Bitcoin ETF extended on its breakout and GLD is still looking extended.

After hitting oversold extremes in early April, breadth indicators bounced the last few weeks with the percentage of S&P 500 stocks above their 200-day SMA hitting 36%. This also means that 66% are below their 200-day SMAs and in long-term downtrends. You cannot have a bull market with

Stocks are all over the place in April with a breakdown at the beginning and a Zweig Breadth Thrust towards the end. April price action seems to dominate, but it was the March breakdowns that reversed the long-term uptrends. The weight of the evidence also turned bearish in mid March as long-term breadth indicators also triggered. Currently, the long-term

Today’s report starts with the Zweig Breadth Thrust, which failed to trigger for the S&P 500, but remains a possibility for the S&P 1500. Follow through in the coming days is needed to trigger. We then turn to detailed analysis of SPY, which is below its falling 200-day SMA and near short-term resistance. Stocks are still broadly out of favor with eight of the eleven sectors

The weight of the evidence remains bearish, but stocks are currently experiencing an oversold bounce. This video will show upside targets and show what it takes to go from a bear market bounce to a bullish breadth thrust. Attention then turns to nine equity ETFs that are holding up the best, including two tech-related ETFs. In the alternative asset group, Bitcoin broke out and the DB Agriculture ETF is making a move. Gold is going parabolic and getting dangerous.

The long-term trends and breadth charts have been net bearish since mid March. SPY, QQQ and the S&P 500 EW ETF (RSP) are in long-term downtrend since early-mid March. Six of the nine breadth indicators were bearish as of mid March. The bond market and Fed policy are the wild cards.

The next report/video will be on Wednesday, April 23rd.  Short-term, the stock market is like the silver ball in a pinball machine: bouncing all over the place as the news flippers push it around. As Dow Theory asserts, short-term price fluctuations are random and subject to manipulation. Long-term trends, in contrast, are not random and not subject to manipulation. Long-term, the trend and the weight of the evidence are clear. SPY and QQQ are in downtrends and the breadth indicators

Today’s report will focus on some commodity-related ETFs for two reasons. First, we are in a bear market for stocks. Second, these ETFs are in uptrends. Despite these uptrends, volatility is increasing in this group as well. There is no escaping volatility these days. We will also cover Bitcoin because it is an alternative asset that is setting up.

The weight of the evidence remains bearish. Stocks are in the midst of an oversold bounce, but we have yet to see follow through strong enough to trigger a bullish breadth thrust. SPY and QQQ are in long-term downtrends and near short-term resistance levels after their oversold bounces, which creates a precarious situation. In fact, several ETFs are hitting resistance levels after oversold bounces. Some ETFs are even showing relative strength, but this really means “less weakness”. Gold remains the ultimate safe-haven and Bitcoin has a bullish failure swing working.

Even with the big rebound last week, the vast majority of stocks are below their 200 and 150 day SMAs. Only 23% of S&P 1500 stocks are above their 200-day SMAs (77% below), and only 20% are above their 150-day SMAs (80% below). New lows expanded last week with over 30% of S&P 1500 stocks hitting 52-week lows.

The weight of the evidence remains bearish for stocks and the bounce over the last four days is considered an oversold bounce. Our short-term breadth thrust indicators have yet to trigger. Until these indicators trigger, I will consider this a bear market bounce. This means negative outcomes are still more likely than positive outcomes. Resistance zones are more likely to hold and support levels are more likely to be broken. In short, risk in stocks remains above average. See this report for an update on the thrust indicators..

The analysis mode remains macro because the weight of the evidence is still bearish for stocks. Moreover, the markets are unhinged with stocks, commodities, currencies and Treasury bonds fluctuating wildly. Chaos makes chart analysis exceptionally difficult. Perhaps there is opportunity in the chaos, but the current market environment is for nimble traders with quick trigger fingers.

This market regime report weighs the evidence to determine the state of the stock market. Are we in a bull market or bear market? We start with the long-term trends for three major index ETFs (SPY,QQQ,RSP). Attention then turns to breadth indicators to measure the percentage of stocks in uptrends/downtrends and the percentage hitting

Everything, well, almost everything, fell the last four trading days. This includes the gold and US Treasury Bonds. The Dollar was hit hard, which means other currencies gained. Stocks, industrial metals, oil, crypto and foreign stocks were all down the last four days. Within the US stock market, all sector ETFs and all but two

Before looking at the current extremes, keep in mind that the weight of the evidence on the Market Regime page is bearish. We are in a bear market, and bear market rules apply. Support levels are less likely to hold and Bullish Setups are less likely to work. Stocks are extremely oversold right now: long-term and short-term. These oversold conditions could lead to a bounce, but this will be considered a bear market bounce as long as the evidence remains bearish. With volatility higher in bear markets, we can expect some sharp counter-trend bounces and erratic price action.

Stocks are in a freefall with selling pressure spreading into industrial metals and other economically sensitive commodities. There are few places to hide in bear markets, and the list of alternatives continues to shrink. Bitcoin, an alternative, is holding up relatively well since March, but

Today’s report covers the commodity, bond and Bitcoin ETFs. Gold continues to lead, but looks increasingly extended. Industrial metals are under pressure as copper turns down after a parabolic move. Agriculture is holding its breakout, while bonds are poised to break out as money moves into relative safe-havens.

Charles Dow identified three market trends. First, the primary trend is the major trend at work. This is the long-term trend. As noted in the Market Regime report, the weight of the evidence is bearish and this applies to the primary trend. The primary trend cannot be manipulated. Second

Short-term, the stock market became oversold in mid March and ripe for a bounce. Longer term, however, the weight of the evidence is bearish and the major index ETFs are in downtrends (SPY, QQQ, RSP). This means we are looking at the possibility of a counter-trend bounce within a bigger downtrend, which is not an ideal situation.

Today’s report covers the commodity, bond and Bitcoin ETFs. Gold continues to lead the markets as it trades near all time highs. Copper is next in line as it goes parabolic and nears overbought levels. Bonds are confused with the TLT breaking down as IEF holds within a bullish consolidation. Bitcoin got an oversold bounce within a bigger downtrend and a bearish pattern is taking shape.

The major index ETFs broke down in March, became oversold and got oversold bounces. Long-term trend reversals remain for SPY, QQQ and XLK. This means the recent bounces are counter-trend moves within bigger downtrends. ETFs related to housing, retail and semiconductors continue to lag and support a risk-off environment. Defensive names are holding up the best (Utilities, Insurance, MLP, Telecom). Most tech-related ETFs are in long-term downtrends, but two are holding up relatively well with short-term breakouts recently.

This is an update for the Zweig Breadth Thrust (ZBT) indicators, which were featured on March 21st. The S&P 500 and S&P 1500 Zweig Breadth Thrust indicators became oversold with moves below -20% on March 13th. The black arrows on the SPY chart (bottom window) show the oversold setups

Stocks broke down with deep declines into mid March (11-13). These deep declines led to short-term oversold conditions, which primed the pump for the current bounce. At this point, I consider this an oversold bounce, as opposed to a bullish thrust that turns the evidence bullish. We need to see strong follow through to go from oversold bounce to bullish thrust.

Today’s report covers the commodity, bond and Bitcoin ETFs. Gold continues to lead the markets with strength transferring to the Gold Miners. The only concern is the overbought condition, which is fast approaching. Copper surged to a new high and Coppers Miners broke out. Bonds remain in an uptrend as TLT bids for a short-term breakout. Bitcoin bounces within downtrend.