Market Pullback Might Have Legs

Market Summary

Recently we have been recommending hedging long-term bullish positions to protect gains in the event of a market pullback like we have now. The updated chart below shows 9 out of the 10 S&P sectors are in negative territory over the past month. The width of the current pullback signals it has legs and might continue for a while. Investors are nervous about whether the Fed will raise interest rates. Also giving them reason to be cautious, are global economic uncertainty and disappointment with corporate earnings growth.

  

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is known as the market’s “fear gauge” because it tracks the expected volatility priced into short-term S&P 500 Index options. When stocks stumble, the uptick in volatility and the demand for index put options tends to drive up the price of options premiums and sends the VIX higher. Implied volatility on Wall Street, as measured by the CBOE Volatility index on Friday, soared 30% to 16.35, the steepest increase since June 24, the day Britain voted to leave the European Union, in a referendum dubbed Brexit. Investors tend to be more fretful of VIX readings of 20 or above, but Friday’s jump was significant for the so-called fear gauge for Wall Street, considering that it has remained around 12 for a sustained period. Also note the last time the S&P 500 index dropped this hard was during the Brexit fallout.

By Gregory Clay

Investment Strategist

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gregoryclay@nellaadvisors.com

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