TopdownCharts

Topdown Charts is a chart-driven macro research house covering global asset allocation and economics. We primarily serve multi-asset investors and institutions.

    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·05-04

      Bull Market Reloaded? $SPX Strength Meets High Expectations

      Weekly S&P500 ChartStorm Learnings and conclusions from this week’s charts: The S&P500 gained +10.4% in April (+5.3% YTD). A good (>5%) April bodes well for the rest of the year. Micro Cap stocks are making a big move (good sign for all stocks). There has been a big pivot in preference from cash-flow to capex. Value investing might(?) be dead, but don’t ignore valuations altogether. Overall, the “healthy correction” thesis is playing out near to textbook, and unless some new bad news or shocks show up, that means the path of least resistance is probably onwards and upwards… $S&P 500(.SPX)$ $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ $E-mini S&P 500 - main
      177Comment
      Report
      Bull Market Reloaded? $SPX Strength Meets High Expectations
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-30

      Weekly Macro Outlook: Growth Strength vs. Rising Inflation Risks

      Here's the topics & takeaways from my latest Weekly Macro Themes report: 1. Global Growth: the weight of evidence points to ongoing global growth reacceleration in 2026 (this is supportive for risk assets, and tilts to a bullish bias for stocks). 2. Inflation Risk: expect higher inflation globally given starting point of higher than average inflation, stronger global growth, elevated inflation expectations, tight capacity, and rising commodity prices. 3. Treasuries: retain a bullish bias given cheap valuations, very light positioning/allocations, consensus bearish sentiment, but still waiting for macro/technical confirmation (not yet; mostly downside risk for bonds). 4. EM Bonds: remain bullish given cheap valuations, favorable technicals and sentiment, bullish EMFX outlook, but wary o
      220Comment
      Report
      Weekly Macro Outlook: Growth Strength vs. Rising Inflation Risks
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-29

      Semis Hit Bubble Phase: Record Weighting, 17-Day Surge Signals Risk for Bulls & Bears

      This week’s chart shows the market cap weighting of US semiconductor stocks (making record highs). It’s a remarkable chart because at ~14% it’s basically double the level it peaked at during the height of the dot-com bubble. It also comes at an interesting juncture as the $Philadelphia Semiconductor Index(SOX)$ (Semiconductors Index) just chalked-up a record 17-days in a row of gains. This is a dangerous market. It’s dangerous for bulls because these are the types of conditions where you often encounter sharp corrections and crashes (even if it is the way of the future). But it’s also dangerous for bears because this is basically the bubble-phase of the bull market — attempts at shorting could end up generating large losses in small time as a combi
      207Comment
      Report
      Semis Hit Bubble Phase: Record Weighting, 17-Day Surge Signals Risk for Bulls & Bears
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-26

      Markets Heating Up: S&P 500 Faces Divergence as Semis Surge to Extremes

      Weekly S&P500 ChartStorm - 26 April 2026 This week: technical check, seasonality snippets, fund flows, semiconductors, market froth at the top, cyclicals, global growth, emerging market equities... Learnings and conclusions from this week’s charts: There’s a minor bearish breadth divergence on the S&P500. Seasonality is also moving into a weaker period. (albeit seasonality tends to be better when stocks are up YTD) Semis are surging, chalking up multiple records and extremes. Cyclicals vs defensives are confirming the bullish macro picture. Overall, there’s a couple of short-term technical risk flags to note (especially with geopolitics simmering and central banks in the wings) and plenty of pockets of froth still bubbling away in markets. But there’s also some bright spots (e.g. e
      701Comment
      Report
      Markets Heating Up: S&P 500 Faces Divergence as Semis Surge to Extremes
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-25

      Tactical Outlook: Bullish China, Software & Bitcoin; Commodities Downgraded to Neutral

      Weekly Macro Themes Report (preview) - China, Commodities, Software, Bitcoin Here's the topics & takeaways from my latest Weekly Macro Themes report: 1. China: remain bullish Chinese stocks given cheap/reasonable valuations, improving technicals, nascent cyclical upturn, and tentative turning point in the property market downturn. 2. Commodities: switch back to neutral from previous bullish given technical risk flags, valuations becoming slightly expensive, and shifts in sentiment/flows/positioning. 3. Software: bullish software sector given big reset in absolute and relative valuations, excess pessimism, and very promising technicals (with clearly defined risk triggers). 4. Bitcoin: bullish bitcoin (vs US$) given compelling bullish technicals, reset in sentiment/positioning, bullish m
      410Comment
      Report
      Tactical Outlook: Bullish China, Software & Bitcoin; Commodities Downgraded to Neutral
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-24

      From Weakness to Base: $BTC & Software Show Stabilization

      This chart tracks what have been two of the biggest weak spots in markets. (and is interesting for 2 key reasons) First: both Bitcoin and Software stocks have stopped going down (and actually are starting to look very promising from a technical standpoint) — i.e. the weak spots are no longer getting weaker. That’s important because in markets weakness has a habit of spreading. But also, further upside in these two (which is looking likely) will help rebuild sentiment and reinforce the bullish outlook for stocks in general. Which brings me to the second point… Second: both boast a bullish tactical outlook (as I just outlined in my latest Weekly Macro Themes report) Basically, we’ve seen a major reset in price (software down more than -35%, bitcoin off almost -50%) and a big washout in senti
      462Comment
      Report
      From Weakness to Base: $BTC & Software Show Stabilization
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-20

      The S&P500 has bounced back & onto new all-time highs

      Weekly S&P500 ChartStorm - 19 April 2026 Learnings and conclusions from this week’s charts: The S&P500 has bounced back & onto new all-time highs. Q1 saw a major cleanout in positioning across participants. Two major weak spots (Bitcoin & Software) are looking better. Global equity technicals look bullish following “healthy correction”. Retail allocations to cash remain around the bottom end of the range. Overall, following what now looks to be a “healthy correction” + a big Q1 clean out in positioning + positive technical developments — it looks like the path of least resistance is higher from here. Mission Accomplished: that looks like a decisive victory. One thing I think that stands out through this whole episode is how despite consensus bullish sentiment, crowded
      1.42KComment
      Report
      The S&P500 has bounced back & onto new all-time highs
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-13

      $SPX Rally Faces Resistance While Semiconductors Hit Highs

      Weekly S&P500 ChartStorm - 12 April 2026 Learnings and conclusions from this week’s charts: The S&P500 $S&P 500(.SPX)$ has rebounded to a key overhead resistance zone. Semiconductors $VanEck Semiconductor ETF(SMH)$ meanwhile are already out to new all-time highs. Tech stocks have seen a reset comparable to that of April 2025. The tech sector is driving overall profit margins to record highs. Tech stock valuations are still elevated (raising some questions). Overall, it’s been a textbook rally from oversold conditions. The next steps will be key as overhead resistance looms (with risk shadows lingering in the background vs tech strength stirring). 1. Technical Check bouncing from oversold condit
      532Comment
      Report
      $SPX Rally Faces Resistance While Semiconductors Hit Highs
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-07

      Sentiment Split Deepens: Oversold Tech, Rebound Signals Build

      $S&P 500(.SPX)$ $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ $NASDAQ 100(NDX)$ $Invesco QQQ(QQQ)$ $Dow Jones(.DJI)$ $iShares Russell 2000 ETF(IWM)$ Learnings and conclusions from this week’s charts: Investor Sentiment is down, Economic Sentiment is up. Markets appear to be following the Trump Weave. Oil Shock Analogs highlight the worst case. Tech sentiment is deeply oversold. Global equities are up from oversold +positive April seasonality. Overall, there seems to be a growing body of evidence for a rebound. 1. Sentiment Survey Composite the comb
      379Comment
      Report
      Sentiment Split Deepens: Oversold Tech, Rebound Signals Build
    • TopdownChartsTopdownCharts
      ·04-03

      10 Key charts and issues to keep track of in the year ahead

      $S&P 500(.SPX)$ $SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ $E-mini S&P 500 - main 2606(ESmain)$ $NASDAQ 100(NDX)$ $Dow Jones(.DJI)$ $iShares Russell 2000 ETF(IWM)$ 1. From Tightening to Tailwinds: the macro data pulse is looking so-far-so-good despite all the bad news and market volatility, and the key reason is all the monetary easing tailwinds from 2024/25 are having their maximum impact right now. So as far as I can tell, for now, the global economic reacceleration theme remains on-track. “the biggest story in macro of the 2020’s ech
      495Comment
      Report
      10 Key charts and issues to keep track of in the year ahead
     
     
     
     

    Most Discussed