A Recessionary Bear Ahead?

In the wake of Gulf War III, the odds of a U.S. recession in 2026 have spiked in the betting markets. Even though the implied recession probability has retreated, they are nevertheless elevated.     Economic recessions are bull market killers. What are the chances of an oil shock-induced recession? Here are the bull and...

What Happened to the TACO?

Mid-week market update: I wrote on the weekend that the Trump Administration was on the verge of a TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) pivot. The market had the hint of a TACO on March 9, when he told CBS: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much”, but changed his tune hours later: “we’ve...

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...

The NVIDIA Make or Break Moment

Mid-week market update: The major U.S. averages have been range bound for weeks. The only exception is the equal-weighted S&P 500, which has been in a steady uptrend but it has yet to break out through key resistance (dotted line). The market is coiling for a move.     As investors wait for the NVIDIA earnings...

A Market of Stocks, Not A Stock Market

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....

What Comes After the Software Apocalypse?

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...

Twilight of the AI Bull

We should all have seen it coming. At the end of 2025, Time Magazine named its person of the year as “the architects of AI”. This was the classic example of the contrarian magazine cover indicator.     As well, U.S. investors who watched the Super Bowl also saw a flood of AI-related TV commercials....

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...

The S&P 500 Battle at the 50 dma

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...

The Dreaded Hindenburg Omen

Mid-week market update: In case you missed it, the dreaded Hindenburg Omen has reared its ugly head again. In plain English, the Hindenburg Omen is signaled when a market with bifurcated breadth sees a rollover in price momentum. Single day signals tend not to be very useful, but clusters of signals may foreshadow future drawdowns.  ...

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...

Mag 7, or Lag 7?

I have been an advocate of holding a barbell position of U.S. large-cap growth and EAFE value stocks in equity allocations. More recently, the EAFE value portion has outperformed while the U.S. large-cap growth component has lagged. As a consequence, I am increasingly seeing questions of whether it’s time to rethink the allocation to U.S....

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...

Embrace the Market’s Animal Spirits

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...

Remarkable Bullish Resilience

Mid-week market update: The S&P 500 is pulling back to test its rising trend line and the VVIX, or the volatility of the VIX Index, spikes above the key 100 level, which indicates rising market anxiety. However, an analysis of market internals reveal a remarkable level of bullish resilience in the face of recent unsettling headlines...