We’ve seen some pretty weird stuff this year…
There was the “flash crash” back in May, when the Dow plummeted 1,000 points and then recovered it all within just a few minutes. We’ve seen a persistent bid beneath stock prices, which has held the market up even though investors have pulled money out of equity mutual funds every single month…
Interest rates have fallen to historic low levels while the supply of bonds has grown exponentially. Precious metals and commodity prices have exploded higher as the Fed tries to battle deflation. And the Hindenburg Omen made headlines in the financial press and then fizzled like a wet firecracker.
Like I said… weird.
But this takes the cake…
Volatility has collapsed.
The Volatility Index (VIX) – the market’s best measure of investor fear – is now trading below where it was just before the flash crash.
Am I the only one who’s scared to death?
The economy stinks. The mortgage market is riddled with fraud. Banks aren’t lending money to anyone. And taxes are going up.
Yet, the stock market is partying like there isn’t a care in the world.
[ad#Google Adsense]Of course, I understand the bullish argument. If the economy strengthens, stocks will go up. And if the economy doesn’t improve, the Fed will print enough money to force stocks higher.
Is it really that simple?
Somehow, I doubt it. After all, Internet stocks could only go higher in 2000. And real estate only goes up. Right?
Pardon me if I don’t believe all of the world’s problems can be solved by central banks printing money.
But I digress… Let’s get back to the point of the day.
Despite all the oddities in the financial markets this year, no one sees much risk. The Volatility Index is trading near its low for the year, and investors seem to believe all assets can only go higher. They think it’s a one-way bet for stocks, bonds, and commodities.
But markets don’t work that way.
Periods of low volatility are always, always, ALWAYS followed by periods of high volatility. And in the financial markets, high volatility means selling pressure.
I was bearish in the weeks leading up to the flash crash. The market’s action seemed artificial and manipulated. And I wrote about it until I bored myself with the subject.
Then we crashed.
Now, I can’t tell you we’re headed for the same destination this time. Markets are never that poetic. But asset prices are expensive and there’s a lot more risk to the stock market than the Volatility Index seems to indicate.
Pick whatever metaphor you like… storm clouds on the horizon, or sharks in the water… dangerous risks are lurking.
Be careful out there.
Best regards and good trading,
— Jeff Clark
[ad#jack p.s.]
Source: Growth Stock Wire