Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Financial Stress Assessment

The ICE BofA high yield option adjusted spread index has been moving in a pattern similar to that of late 2024 and early 2025. When the index dropped below 2.65 a decline in the stock markets followed. This was also the case in 2007. The latest readings starting on January 22, 2026 indicates a stock market pullback is expected this year.

January 24, 2007 = 2.63
April 26, 2007 = 2.63

November 8, 2024 = 2.63
January 17, 2025 = 2.64

January 22, 2026 = 2.64
June 17, 2026 = 2.63
August 27, 2026 = 2.63

References:
1. ICE BofA US High Yield Index Option-Adjusted Spread

2. Option-adjusted spread

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Swiss Franc Decline

On September 13, 2026 an interesting correlation between the NASDAQ 100 and Swiss Franc was shown in the first chart. In this case, as the Swiss Franc moves lower, the NASDAQ is expected to follow with a decline going into December. As this decline continues, the CBOE Options Total Put/Call Ratio 5 day moving average should be monitored. A move above 1.0 indicates the NASDAQ is within range of its low before moving higher.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Oil Prices

Since the invasion of Iran on February 27, 2026, oil (WTIC) went into a parabolic move hitting $119 on March 9, 2026. The price has dropped back to $100, but this will still have an impact on stock markets. Retail products such as gasoline and heating oil are also in a position to affect the public. Stock markets are still expected to pull back, and this will be a contributing factor.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Interest Rates: 30-YR

On August 4, 2026 it was noted that the 30-Yr was a in position similar to that of October 2018. In 2018 the 30-Yr moved out of its ascending triangle during the first week of October. This year the 30-Yr rate moved out of its ascending triangle in late July.

As of September 11, 2026 the CME FedWatch shows a probability of a rate hike is 86.3%. If that occurs, borrowing costs, mortgage loans, and consumer credit rates will move higher as well.

Based on the steady accumulation of TLT by insiders and Market Makers it appears they are still expecting a pull back in the markets followed by lower interest rates.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Advance Decline Lines

Between 2004 and 2006 the NYSE Common Stock Only Advance-Decline Line developed a rising wedge using a 36.34 degree lower trend line.
Between 2024 and 2026 the same pattern has appeared using the same angle in the lower trend line. There is a high probability it will drop below this trend line before the end of 2026. If Market Makers, etc. repeat 2006, the move down should be relatively brief before a final move upward. Sentiment indicators would be expected to provide some input for a change in direction.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Silver: Non-Commercial Traders

On May 26, 2026 it was noted that the next move up is expected to be parabolic. A review of the Silver Non-Commercial Trader Weekly Net (Long-Short) vs. U.S. Dollar chart shows that a brief decline is expected first. Between October 2025 and September 2026 Non-Commercial Traders followed a pattern similar to that of October 2007 to September 2008. This also aligns with the expectation of a brief decline in the stock markets before the end of the year. Upon the completion of this brief decline another steady move to the upside is expected.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Big Block Trading

Since early 2023 there has been a steady increase in the number of big block trades at the close in the 9 million share range for stocks such as NVDA and INTC. Recently, they are using two large trades at the close that appear to keep a single trade from going over 10 million shares. This could revolve around any number of reasons, but it comes at a time when a pullback in the market is expected. Will continue to monitor this.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Fear & Greed Index

On August 7, 2026 it was noted that the CNN Fear & Greed Index was expected to cycle between the 30s and 60s over the next couple of months. It hit a high of 66 on August 13, 2026 and moved down to 33 on September 2, 2026. At this point the index is repeating a pattern from early 2023. If the index drops below 20, it would be a tuning point for markets to move higher.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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CNN Fear & Greed Index

Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: NAAIM Index and New Highs – New Lows

On July 23, 2026 it was noted that the NAAIM Exposure Index continued to follow the summer 2021 pattern. The Exposure Index data has since been placed behind a paywall, and evaluating investment managers expectations is not possible. In addition to the NAAIM Index, the New Highs – New Lows index indicates a very short term move to its upper trend line is possible before moving lower. This move is expected to happen in a matter of days. The S&P500 is also following a 8.99 degree upper trend line, just like it did in 2021. It appears time is short before markets start moving lower.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow: CRM and DD

Salesforce is currently a component of the Dow 30 and a good example of how Market Makers accumulate stock prior to moving prices higher. During the first half of 2026 this stock was quietly accumulated in preparation for a 22% gain on August 27, 2026. This was based on a beat on their second quarter earnings forecast and expanded partnership with Anthropic. Market Makers were well aware of this and positioned to take advantage of it.

 

Accumulation of stock by insiders has a long history. DuPont was a component of the Dow 30 in 1974 when Specialists accumulated a significant amount of their stock. This was prior to issuing the February 1975 Economic Report of the President developed by the Council of Economic Advisors. The economy was in a recession with high unemployment, high inflation and numerous economic issues.  Specialists knew the $23 billion Tax Reduction act of 1975 would be signed by March 29, 1975. They were well positioned to take advantage of this.
Richard Ney provided a DuPont chart showing this example on page 270 of his 1975 book, Making It In the Market.

References:

1. Historical components of the Dow Jones Industrial Averages
2. Making It In The Market, Richard Ney, 1975, page 270

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Oracle 2026

Oracle moved up 36% on September 10, 2025 based on cloud computing demand. Since that time, the stock has dropped back to the $140 range. As the stock declined in late 2025, volume has taken on the characteristics of what has typically been seen as extremely large Market Maker accumulation activities. In addition to this there are signs of accumulation in other products such as CRM, CPB, and IGV. This would indicate exchange insiders are expecting markets to move higher. A pullback in the markets between now and the end of the year is still expected. This will provide Market Makers with an opportunity to buy additional inventory before moving prices higher.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Bitcoin: Extreme Net Long Update

On July 6, 2026 it was noted that net non-commercial trader long positions continued to grow while bitcoin traded around the 60,000 mark. Current data still aligns with the Engrbytrade™ Bitcoin Model based on Euro values between 1971 and 1985. Bitcoin is expected to move higher before making a long term decline.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Microsoft 2026

Previous Specialists and current Market Makers are well versed on how to move Microsoft to optimize profits for their personal and corporate accounts. Microsoft and other tech companies, such as NVIDIA and Micron continue to provide the same play book through each cycle. This includes 2000, 2008 and 2026. This is why you see similar chart structures in each case. Microsoft is currently in the phase where Market Makers distribute as much stock as possible to hedge funds, pension funds, etc. before moving prices lower in 2026 and/or 2027. There will be an endless number of excuses as tech stocks start to move lower. It has been observed that extremely large blocks are making their way into other Dow stocks. This would provide a mechanism to move prices higher in other sectors while tech stocks decline. The same trick they used in 2000.

Micron Twelve Point charts

NVIDIA Peak 2026

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Short Term Low

Over the past year, new short term lows have appeared as markets slowly work their way higher. At the moment markets are now within range of another short term low. As noted previously, markets are still expected to move lower going into the mid-term elections, but for now it appears a short move upward is being planned.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Micron Technology Point Twelve

On July 22, 2026 an update on Micron Technology noted it appeared corporate strategic plans, Market Maker activity, and algorithms have not changed much since the year 2000. Micron is currently in a position that is similar to where it was in mid-August 2000. If this trend continues, September could be a difficult month for technology stocks.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: Swiss Franc vs NASDAQ

On August 14, 2026 Guilherme Tavares @i3_invest on X.com provided an interesting intermarket correlation between the NASDAQ and Swiss Franc. Since a pullback in the market was already expected, the following charts provide another perspective for the coming months.

Source: https://x.com/i3_invest/status/2088249286668472387

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

Stock charts courtesy of http://StockCharts.com.

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Interest Rates: Corporate vs Treasury Spread

In less than two years, the following corporate high yield vs investment grade bond index experienced three declines between 2.60 and 2.70. The latest readings between July and August indicate another S&P500 short term decline is possible.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

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Dollar: Long Contracts

Non-commercial futures traders have been quietly sending a message that they are expecting a change in the value of the Dollar. The number of long dollar contracts has been increasing while the number of short contracts declined since November 2025. This is similar to what occurred between September 2007 and August 2008. The end result was a sharp decline in the S&P500 and interest rates as the Dollar moved higher between August and November 2008. Based on Non-Commercial futures trader positioning the Dollar is expected to move higher as stock markets move lower.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

Stock charts courtesy of http://StockCharts.com.

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Dow/S&P500/NASDAQ: NVIDIA Peak

On July 18, 2025 a comparison of 2001, 2007, and 2025 NVIDIA five point charts was reviewed. NVIDIA completed a 5 point chart in 2002 and 2007 with a process that took approximately 1 ½ years to move from point 1 to point 5. During each process a stock split occurred during the 2nd year. The 2026 5 point chart has developed over a 3 year period with a stock split in the 2nd year. Since March 2026, very large 7 figure block trades have been crossing the tape at the close. This pattern is similar to what occurred in October and November 2024. During that time smaller 7 figure block trades crossed the tape at the close before a decline started in November 2024. This was after NVIDIA replaced Intel in the Dow Index. The current April to August 2026 structure appears to be similar to what occurred between July and December 2007.

Note that this information is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation.

Stock charts courtesy of http://StockCharts.com.

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