Back in the rut

Mid-week market update: The world is full of surprises. Not only was I beside myself when news of the Bragelina breakup hit the tape, I mistakenly believed that the stock market did not display sufficient fear to form a durable bottom (see the trading comments in Is a recession just around the corner?).

Last week, Mark Hulbert found that the bullishness of his sample of NASDAQ market timers had retreated but readings weren't at a bearish extreme, which suggested that a scenario of more market choppiness.

The CNN Money Fear and Greed Index had fallen to levels where the market had bounced before, but it could have gone a lot lower. Even if it were to bottom at these levels, I would not necessarily discount a W-shaped bottom where the index declined to the recent lows before rising again.

I was wrong. Life is full of surprises.

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