The S&P 500 closed higher but failed again at key resistance ahead of the CPI report, with volatility metrics and short-term funding rates signaling potential near-term weakness.
Author: Michael Kramer
Stocks Retreat as S&P 500 Forms Possible Double Top
Stocks retreated as the S&P 500 showed signs of a potential double-top pattern, with tightening liquidity and Treasury settlements adding pressure while Tesla and Netflix faced technical weakness.
Gold Plunges as Gamma Squeeze Unwinds and Equities Stall
Gold plunged 5.5% as a gamma squeeze appeared to unwind, while the S&P 500 remained flat and HYG showed signs of renewed weakness near key resistance.
Stocks Rally as Volatility Plunges and S&P 500 Tests Key Resistance
Stocks surged as implied volatility collapsed and the S&P 500 closed above its 20-day moving average, though stretched correlation metrics and upcoming Treasury settlements may test market resilience.
Stocks Struggle for Direction as Systematic Selling Caps Upside Momentum
The S&P 500 remains capped below its 20-day moving average following OPEX, with narrowing dispersion, tightening liquidity, and shifting volatility ratios suggesting potential downside risks ahead.
Liquidity Stress and Surging VIX Drive Unusual Market Activity
Volatility measures surged far beyond the modest S&P 500 decline, signaling broad-based hedging and rising liquidity stress beneath the market’s surface.
Treasury Settlements Tighten Liquidity as Gold Volatility Surges to Multi-Year Highs
Stocks ended up 40 bps Wednesday as liquidity strains from Treasury settlements pushed repo rates higher and gold volatility spiked to levels not seen since early 2025.
Stocks Fail To Breach Critical Resistance Levels
The S&P 500 struggled to hold above key technical levels as narrowing correlation spreads and Powell’s comments on QT signal potential volatility ahead.
Volatility Reset Suggests Recent Gains May Be Short-Lived
The S&P 500’s rally met technical resistance at its 20-day moving average, while falling VIX readings suggest near-term calm that may not last.
A VIX Reset May Spark a Temporary S&P 500 Rebound
The S&P 500’s sharp 2.7% decline on Friday may lead to a short-lived rebound as the VIX 1-day resets, but systematic fund flows and persistent volatility risks suggest further downside pressure remains possible.
The 3 Ghosts of Tighter Financial Conditions Loom Over Equities
Credit spreads widened and liquidity signals tightened as the dollar strengthened and risk assets weakened, hinting that financial conditions may be turning restrictive again.
Dollar Index Breaks Resistance as S&P 500 Momentum Stalls
The S&P 500 remains range-bound near the 6,750 gamma level amid rising volatility, weakening breadth, and a strengthening U.S. dollar breaking above key resistance.
Today’s Market Looks More Like 2018 Than 1999
The ghost of 2018 haunts this market, not 1999...
Credit Markets and Private Equity Stocks Flash Warning Signs
Markets face key inflection points this week as Treasury auctions, dollar strength, and widening credit spreads could shape near-term moves in yields, currencies, and equities.
Repo Usage and Leverage Pricing Signal Growing Stock Market Headwinds
The S&P 500 remained flat at 6,720 as financing costs and repo usage point to increasing downside risks for the S&P 500.
The Music Has Stopped but the Stock Market Continues to Play
Volatility dropped to even as liquidity conditions remain tight and select stocks signal potential shifts in market leadership.
Liquidity Pressures Push Repo Rates Above Fed Funds Range
Liquidity stress surfaced as repo rates climbed above the Fed’s target, reverse repo volumes declined, and the S&P 500 Dispersion Index reached its highest level since the tariff tantrum.
Elevated Dispersion Highlights Market Vulnerability
U.S. equities closed flat as dispersion remained elevated, liquidity tightened, and markets awaited the JOLTS report and major Treasury settlements.
Stock Market Volatility Floors Tested Amid Rising Credit Spread Risks
The McClellan Summation Index dropped below 500 for the first time since May, raising concerns about market breadth, volatility floors, and widening European credit spreads.
Dollar Strength Builds as Yields Rise and Liquidity Tightens
The dollar strengthened further as rising yields, tightening liquidity, and falling reserves raised risks for equities ahead of key economic data and quarter-end settlements.