The stock market is setting up for a short-term bounce.

But make no mistake… the long-term and intermediate-term trends for the stock market remain bearish.

The S&P 500 closed February below its 20-month exponential moving average (EMA) line. That’s bearish.

And the NYSE McClellan Summation Index (NYSI) generated an intermediate-term sell signal two weeks ago. That’s bearish too.

But one of our most reliable short-term trading indicators just flashed a buy signal. So, we could soon see a few days of upside action in stocks.

Last week, the Volatility Index (VIX) generated a broad stock market buy signal.

Take a look…

Chart

The VIX generates a buy signal when it first closes above its upper Bollinger Band, and then closes back inside the bands (blue arrows). That happened last week, and it gave us our first buy signal of 2023.

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Last year, the VIX gave us three buy signals. Here’s how those signals (blue arrows) played out on the S&P 500…

Chart

In all three cases last year, the S&P 500 experienced a bit more short-term weakness before putting on a sharp, quick bounce.

Within one week, the index gained more than 100 points following the VIX buy signal last April. It popped 150 points higher in about a week in June.

And the buy signal in late September was good for a 150-point pop in the index – which again, lasted just over one week.

Last Thursday, the VIX generated a buy signal. Since then, the stock market has experienced a bit more short-term weakness.

We’re in the time frame now where, if the buy signal is going to play out, we should see a quick, short-term bounce.

If the bounce follows the same script as all three of the VIX buy signals last year, then the S&P 500 could be trading near 4100 or so by this time next week.

So, while technical conditions remain bearish for the intermediate- and long-term time frames, the stock market is set up for a decent short-term bounce.

Best regards and good trading,

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Jeff Clark

Reader Mailbag

In today’s mailbag, a Delta Report member shares their thoughts on where the market is headed next…

I predict the next market move to be up. The threat of war hasn’t dampened the market. The threat of a 50-point raise has a minor effect. “Buy the open” and “sell the close” still seems to be working. Zero-day options are now massive enough to swing the market.

The “Inverted Hammer” pattern on the February 24 VIX indicates a coming drop – 74% accurate. The following “Three Outside Down” pattern would also indicate a pending drop in the VIX – 93% accurate. The market rise since October continues to be broad-based.

Massive tech layoffs stimulate the market business investment. The downtrend line, in place since January 22, has been broken to the upside. Last week has been to test the new bull market.

– Halmer W.

Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comments. We look forward to reading them every day. Keep them coming at [email protected].