S&P 500 vs. Margin Debt Margin debt boosts market gains as investors leverage their positions to increase buying power. A reliable warning sign for reducing portfolio risk occurs when margin balances drop below the 12-month…

S&P 500 Performance After an All-Time High and Then Four Red Days in a Row The S&P 500 has fallen for four consecutive days after reaching a record high. Despite short-term challenges, the 12-month outlook…

ISABELNET Cartoon of the Day For bears, the bull market is a recurring nightmare they can’t wake up from. For bulls, it’s just another day of ignoring risk and having a great time! Happy “Hump”…

YTD Equity Return vs. U.S. In 2025, the relative outperformance of international stocks compared to U.S. equities has underscored the benefits of diversification for investors so far. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research

Median Stock Short Interest as Share of Market Capitalization While the S&P 500’s median short interest is currently low by historical standards, Consumer Staples, Utilities, and Health Care sectors are notable exceptions, showing elevated short…

Hedge Fund and Mutual Fund Equity Exposure In a sign of optimism about the current economic climate, hedge funds and mutual funds have collectively increased their stakes in U.S. equities, which paints a picture of…

Citi Economic Surprise Index The falling Citi U.S. Economic Surprise Index indicates that economic data is no longer surpassing expectations, but this doesn’t necessarily signal a sudden economic downturn. Image: Bloomberg

Annual Change in Gold Demand Central banks’ gold demand has grown by 11.5% annually since 2019, fueling the current price rally as they aim to diversify reserves. While gold excels as a crisis hedge, it…

S&P 500 Bull Markets The current bull market, which began in October 2022, is showing potential for continued growth at 28 months old. Historically, bull markets have lasted an average of 5.5 years since 1949,…

ISABELNET Cartoon of the Day As the S&P 500 stumbled last week, the bear emerged from hibernation, chainsaw in hand, ready to break the bull market. With a sly grin, it whispered to the bull,…

Sentiment – 5-Day Put/Call Volume Ratio The 5-day moving average of the put/call volume ratio has hit its lowest point since late 2021’s bull market peak. Sustained low readings in this ratio often indicate market…