CBOE Gold Volatility Index Gold has been getting jumpy lately, with volatility back to levels we haven’t seen since the COVID market chaos. The metal doesn’t panic easily, but when it does, there’s usually a…

Monthly Net Flow to U.S. Bitcoin ETFs Bitcoin has dropped over 30% since its October 2025 peak, a slide deepening in a market still pressured by relentless ETF outflows. But for crypto veterans, this kind…

S&P 500 Returns – First Five Days >1% and a Positive January Combo History favors the bulls: when the S&P 500 rises more than 1% in the first five days and January closes in the…

S&P 500 – Short Interest on the SPY and QQQ U.S. ETFs Signs of complacency? Short positions in the SPY and QQQ U.S. ETFs remain thin, signaling little appetite for downside speculation and damping the…

S&P 500 and Liquidity Liquidity stays abundant. But since 2022, dip-buyers have stopped tracking liquidity and started trading on Fed whispers, reading signals more than balance sheets. Image: Real Investment Advice

S&P 500 Index Returns Based on If January Is Higher or Lower Bulls have reason to smile: a positive January often sets the tone for a bullish year. When the S&P 500 finishes the month…

U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) A steady U.S. dollar holding its range might be just what traders and markets need. But let it slip below 90 with conviction, and sentiment can turn quickly: what once looked…

S&P 500 Buybacks vs. S&P 500 Composite 12-Month Trailing EPS Corporate buybacks and earnings growth have risen hand in hand. Much of that growth, though, reflects companies lifting their own share prices. With valuations stretched,…

S&P 500 – Seasonality During Bull vs. Bear Markets (Midterm Election Years Only) Bull markets don’t offer immunity. U.S. midterm election years tend to bring choppier trading and elevated volatility for the S&P 500 until…

S&P 500 and Liquidity Index Improving liquidity is setting a friendlier tone for U.S. equities, helped by the Fed’s shift in balance sheet policy. The biggest shake-up could come once Trump’s new Fed chief runs…

U.S. Equity Valuation Metrics (Z-Score Since 1900) U.S. equity valuations are still lofty, with major gauges more than two standard deviations above century-long norms. Cheap is not the word that comes to mind. Image: The…