All major U.S. stock indices except the small-cap Russell 2000 posted a slight weekly gain. Despite last week’s poor showing, the Russell 2000 is actually leading the market higher this year, up 8.3% versus 6.9% for the benchmark S&P 500.

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The week’s best-performing sectors were financials, which have benefitted from the recent rebound in long-term interest rates, and energy, thanks to oil’s rally from major underlying support near $41. 

While I remain positive on the stock market between now and early next year, my research continues to warn that near-term downside risk exceeds upside potential. 

Another Major Obstacle For Market-Leading Technology

In last week’s Market Outlook, I pointed out that the Nasdaq Composite had just posted its first weekly close above its 5,133 tech-bubble high. I said this boded well for a significant advance in the index over the next one to several quarters. 

While the Composite managed another close above this important level on Friday, the chart below shows that its large-cap cousin, the Nasdaq 100, finished last week at 4,807, just below its corresponding high from March 2000 at 4,816.

This tells us that, before the Nasdaq 100’s 16-year high is appreciably broken, the index is vulnerable to a near-term pullback. It also warns of a pullback in the broader market S&P 500, which the Nasdaq indices tend to lead.

How To Tell When A Correction Is Beginning

Last week, I also pointed out that the Volatility S&P 500 Index (VIX) was hovering near 12. I said this indicated an extreme in investor complacency that has historically coincided with or closely led near-term broader market declines. However, now that this complacent extreme has been reached, the market needs a good scare to trigger the next sell-off. 

When that happens, the VIX should shoot above its 50-day moving average, currently situated at 14.95, as my research shows that a sustained rise above this moving average has coincided with every broader market decline over the past several years.

In the meantime, as long as the VIX remains near 12, the market is likely to continue drifting sideways to higher.

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Once the VIX does move above its 50-day moving average — and it eventually will — the next step will be to determine if the increase in investor fear is having a tangible effect on near-term market direction. One way to determine this is by watching the S&P 500’s one-month rate of change (ROC). 

The next chart shows that the S&P 500’s one-month ROC has been positive — i.e., above its zero line — since July 11. But we also see that this metric has been declining lately even as the index has been setting new all-time highs.

This “negative divergence” indicates that the broader market index is losing upward momentum and is therefore vulnerable to more weakness later this month. Additionally, if one-month ROC moves into negative territory — especially if accompanied by a move above 14.95 in the VIX — it will be evidence that the near-term pullback I’m expecting is actually getting under way.

Steel Prices Meet My Upside Target

In the July 5 Market Outlook, I alerted readers to a buying opportunity in the VanEck Vectors Steel ETF (NYSE: SLX) with an upside target of $33. In just over a month, SLX ran up as much as 15.7%, hitting a high of $32.82 on Aug 8. It then pulled back to close last week at $30.95, perhaps driven by profit-taking.  

Although SLX is still in the midst of a major uptrend, as defined by its 200-day moving average, it has essentially met my $33 upside target. I am now on the sidelines in this ETF and waiting for a new buying opportunity.

Gold Prices Topping?

In the July 18 issue, I said contracting investor assets in the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) put the sustainability of gold’s June advance in question. 

The next chart shows that GLD actually peaked about two weeks before that report, on July 6. And, after meandering sideways for the next several weeks, the ETF broke its June 1 rising trendline at the end of last week.

This breakdown helps confirm that a market peak is in place. It also targets a decline to $122.75, which is 3.7% below Friday’s close, that will remain valid as long as last week’s highs hold as overhead resistance.

Putting It All Together

My overall outlook for the U.S. stock market heading into early next year remains positive. However, the high level of investor complacency suggests that near-term downside risk currently exceeds upside potential, especially considering that the market-leading Nasdaq 100 is situated just below its 4,816 tech-bubble high. 

If the VIX rises above 15 this week, I will view it as evidence that there is enough investor fear to trigger the pullback I’m expecting.