After placing in a low in June, markets rallied within the month of the July. This rally was largely led by technology-related shares. The Nasdaq-100 (NDX) is a largely tech-related index and research present that when the Nasdaq leads the opposite markets, it’s often a constructive sign, significantly throughout a bull market. Everyone knows that 2022 has not been a bull market, however seeing the Nasdaq lead is a constructive growth, contemplating that expertise shares had by-and-large led the markets downward within the first six months of this 12 months.
So right here is the massive query that buyers are asking: Have we seen the market’s backside but?
Buyers who “panic bought” within the June downturn are actually left with the selection of getting again in at a better value or ready for markets to say no additional and shift their feelings again from one excessive to the opposite.
Here’s what we have no idea:
We usually produce a “backside line” commentary section on the finish of our blogs, however right here is the underside line a bit early: Nobody is aware of what the market’s low level will likely be, nor do they know when it can occur. The reality is that hindsight is 20/20 and we received’t know whether or not we now have seen a market low till we see a brand new market excessive.
Here’s what we do know:
- Volatility stays excessive: Presently, the Canterbury Volatility Index measures CVI 125. That has come off a bit with the latest rally. The S&P 500 hit a excessive level of CVI 148 again in June.
- This isn’t the primary time the market has rallied this 12 months, throughout a bear market: Again in March, after declining -13% from its peak, the S&P 500 rallied +11% in 15 days. Following that rally, the market dropped -20% to the low in June.
- The market is overbought. some technical indicators, the S&P 500’s relative energy index oscillator (RSI) is above 70, which signifies that its value motion is overextended, and AIQ Buying and selling Skilled Professional’s knowledgeable ranking exhibits that the index is 91% overbought. Does this imply that market received’t proceed to go up? No, but it surely exhibits there’s a larger chance of a decline than there’s a additional rally.
Within the chart beneath, we now have highlighted two of the factors above. First, we illustrate the swings out there. You possibly can see {that a} -13% decline was adopted by a rise of +11%, earlier than declining one other -20%. Now, the market has seen a +13% rally. Will that rally proceed, or will we see one other decline?
Second, the chart exhibits the Relative Power Index (Oscillator) which measures the energy within the value actions of a person index or safety. The indicator makes use of strains at RSI 30 and RSI 70 to measure if a safety is overbought or oversold. You possibly can see when the index has grow to be oversold, it rallied. However, after the +11% rally in March/April, the index grew to become overbought and declined. Now, as soon as once more, the index is overbought. It needs to be famous that being overbought doesn’t assure a considerable decline. Securities can stay overbought.
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Rising Markets
As a fast level, everyone knows that the worldwide markets have declined in 2022. Rising Markets, nonetheless, has been struggling for much longer. The rising markets index is uncovered to nations corresponding to China, India, Taiwan and South Korea. These 4 elements make up 73% of the index, with China alone accounting for 30%. Within the chart beneath, you possibly can see an Rising Market ETF (EEM) that has been declining because the starting of 2021. You may as well see that the relative energy of Rising Markets in comparison with the S&P 500 has been steadily declining. What this implies is that in a lot of the down intervals out there, Rising Markets has carried out worse. When the S&P 500 has kicked again, prefer it has lately, Rising Markets has additionally underperformed.

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Backside Line
We’ll reiterate the purpose we made earlier: nobody is aware of what the market’s low level will likely be, nor do they know when it can occur. Hypothesis of a possible low level will usually show false. Proper now, we’re nonetheless in Market State 9, which is bearish. Volatility is excessive and cautionary; we now have seen earlier bear market rallies fall brief and put in new lows; and by many technical metrics, the market is overbought. One constructive going for the market is that expertise is main, but it surely additionally led on the markets earlier massive rally again within the spring previous to a big decline.
From a portfolio administration standpoint, we proceed to observe the market’s rotations. Rising Markets has been very weak, and has persistently underperformed, largely attributable to China’s weak spot. A place like “inverse” rising markets, which strikes in the wrong way offers stabilization to a portfolio. Based on our rankings, defensive sectors stay close to the highest of our lists.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the creator and don’t essentially mirror these of Nasdaq, Inc.