Micro2Macr0
Macro Economist
US large-cap stocks should be higher months from now because earnings keep blowing out, employment is still strong and the tailwinds hold regardless of what happens in the Strait of Hormuz over the next month. Near term it is close to a coin flip, as weekly technicals are already overbought, and an unforeseen meltdown would change the view. x.com x.com x.com
The S&P 500 still looks headed to 8,000 and QQQ to 780, with the 10-year Treasury yield held below its trend line and bond volatility, as measured by MOVE, still falling. VIX and oil are dropping too, and oil will likely break its rising channel toward $80. Index pullbacks to the 10- and 20-day EMAs are opportunities; a 10-year yield above 5.35% or a break above that trend line would call for caution. x.com
ETRADE's post-midterm return history and the prospect of political gridlock point to higher US stocks. The S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and Alphabet should rise regardless of the election outcome. ETRADE says gridlock limits sweeping tax, regulatory and spending changes; under a Republican president, it reports average next-calendar-year S&P 500 gains of about 16% with Democratic control of Congress and 23% with split control. Strong 2026 gains may limit further upside, particularly in tech. x.com
The S&P 500 faces a roughly 20% drop toward 6,100-6,200 because it is trading in an expanding triangle, a sign of a market losing consensus on price. The sixth touch printed at 7,785 on the upper boundary, and after a sixth touch the break is downside. Macro risks are building: inflation at 3.4%, three Fed officials dissenting for a hike, a 42% chance of a September hike, a net July job loss and extreme mega-cap concentration. The September Fed meeting is the likely trigger, as in 2018 and 2022. … Show more
Crowded fund shorts despite market participation give the S&P 500 a strong upside bias, reinforced by midterm seasonality. Net leverage this low usually appears deep in a bear market or near the end of capitulation. A rally is highly probable, but another 1.5 to 3 weeks of pain is possible: the market could be lower in two weeks, higher in a month and much higher in six months. The S&P 500 has historically gained over 14% after midterms, though there are no guarantees. x.com x.com x.com x.com
The S&P 500's post-midterm record makes 2027 pullbacks worth buying, though history does not guarantee another gain. It rose in the year after all 19 US midterm elections since 1950, averaging 15.4% over 12 months, 12.4% in six months and 5.7% in three months. Take advantage of market swings by buying pullbacks. x.com x.com
US stocks may be nearing a local top that could coincide with the Fed finally raising rates, possibly at the September 15-16 FOMC meeting. The S&P 500's bull pennant breakout targets around 8,600 before then. After that, stocks could work against Bitcoin, which may see its final leg down. x.com
Hyperscaler credit stress and weak financials-versus-staples leadership warn of downside risk in the S&P 500 consolidation. Spreads have broken July wides, though an upside breakout is probable if financials stabilize. So far, tech weakness has lowered yields as Fed hikes are priced out, letting defensives rally and the S&P chop. If the Fed signals Nasdaq weakness won't stop tightening without better data, the tech-yield link could break in an uncomfortable, 2018-like direction. x.com x.com … Show more
The S&P 500 should see further upside first, in a final blow-off phase over the coming months toward 8,000-8,100, where Fibonacci extensions align, as liquidity rotates into risk assets and the crowd embraces AI-supercycle narratives. Markets are already overextended mid-term with falling volume, so taking partial profits and diversifying makes sense. After the top, widening credit spreads, labor weakness and sticky inflation should bring a correction until Fed QE sparks the reversal. x.com … Show more
The S&P 500 is forming an expanding triangle, a sign of a market losing consensus, and has now hit its upper line for the sixth time at 7,785. If the pattern repeats, a seventh touch of the lower line would take it toward 6,100–6,200, about 20% downside. The macro backdrop is worsening: inflation at 3.4%, three Fed officials voting to hike, 42% odds of a September hike, July net job losses and extreme mega-cap concentration. Tightening drove 20–25% drops in 2018 and 2022. x.com
Extreme fear has historically offered strong long-term S&P 500 buying opportunities. After VIX spikes above 30, 35 and 40, average 12-month S&P 500 returns were 23%, 28% and over 30%, respectively; after spikes above 40, returns were positive more than 90% of the time. x.com