Key takeaway: After a healthy unwind over the past few weeks that allowed sentiment to reset to neutral, we are seeing optimism rebuild. This uptick in optimism has been accompanied by (as we show in our chart of the week) another breadth thrust. There is room for a further expansion in optimism before it becomes an excessive headwind - and continued broad market strength diminishes such a signal in any event. The combination of breadth thrusts and persistently elevated optimism is reminiscent of the late-2016 to early-2018 period. Then, equity ETFs saw 20 consecutive months of in-flows - we are currently in our 10th consecutive month of inflows (although the pace is quickening, with a record $100 billion over the past four weeks). Equities ran into trouble in early 2018 when breadth thrust tailwinds subsided but elevated optimism remained.
Sentiment Chart of the Week: Another Breadth Thrust
The percentage of stocks in the S&P 1500 above their 10-day moving average rose above 90% last week, signaling yet another breadth thrust. This is very constructive for equities as both optimism and breadth expand.
