How Do You Say TACO in Farsi?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The “Ultimate Market Timing Model” is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

A Washout Bottom?

Mid-week market update: The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) traded out a possible reversal yesterday (Tuesday) when it opened down, fell, and recovered to close higher on the day. The move was accompanied by a positive divergence on the 5-day RSI and on above average volume. These are all signs of selling exhaustion and a capitulation...

A Cowardly Bull

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The “Ultimate Market Timing Model” is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

Drawing Lines in the Sand

Mid-week market update: While the equal-weighted S&P 500 has been in a well-defined uptrend, which in intermediate-term bullish, other major U.S. equity averages have been mired in trading ranges, which reveal a degree of uncertainty about short-term direction. In addition, the VVIX, or the volatility of the VIX, remains above the 100 level indicating continued uncertainty....

Vulnerable to a Setback

Mid-week market update: The delayed Jobs Report came in much higher than expectations this morning. The knee-jerk reaction in the pre-opening hours was risk-on, but the market reconsidered its view and pulled back after the open.   Once again, the S&P 500 has failed to break out to the upside, though the equal-weighted S&P 500...

What Does Silver’s Volatility Mean For the Markets?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

Did Trump Jinx S&P 7000?

Mid-week market update: The S&P 500 achieved a fresh all-time high yesterday (Tuesday) and it touched 7000 today before retreating. President Trump posted about the event, did he jinx the market?     Probably not. The Fed presented the market with a number of potential surprises. In the end, the Fed decision and the subsequent...

A Welcome Sentiment Reset

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

A Momentum-Driven Start to 2026

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

What Santa Rally?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

High Conviction Idea: My Most Reliable Timing Models

It’s that time of year again to offer my readers the highest conviction idea for the coming year. Last year, my bullish call on gold worked out extremely well (see 2025 High Conviction Idea: Gold). Gold prices soared in all currencies and was one of the best-performing asset classes for the year.     This...

A Less Hawkish Than Expected Rate Cut

Mid-week market update: Coming into the December FOMC decision, I was worried that the market might react negatively on the prospect of a hawkish rate cut. Ahead of the meeting, the Committee was highly divided and the potential for a divided decision was extremely high.     As it turns out, the level of hawkishness had...

At A Crossroad

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

What Investors Should Be Thankful For

As Americans recover from their extended Thanksgiving feasts, they were faced with the news of skidding consumer confidence. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index weakened to levels just above the lows seen during the post-COVID expansion.     The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Confidence, which was released in early November, was even worse....

How to Trade the AI Panic

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

Buy the Dip For the Year-end Rally

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

A Fragile Bull

While I am intermediate-term bullish on stocks, I am also increasingly concerned about the narrowness of market leadership. Market leadership continues to be concentrated in the Magnificent Seven, as the equal-weighted S&P 500, which represents the average stock, lags the index.     Here is what this means from top-down macro and a chartist’s viewpoints....

It’s a little too quiet out there

Mid-week market update: As the stock market grinds upward, I am seeing different variations of "it's a little too quiet out there" warnings from market analysts. One example is the growing gap between the implied volatility (IV) of the S&P 500 and the historical realized volatility (HV).     Eventually, something has to give. It usually...

Get Ready to Buy the Dip, But Not Yet

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...