Key Takeaway: Sentiment has unwound to a point that it’s now seen as an opportunity rather than a risk. Pessimism runs high, investors are cranky, and we have had the most bears since 2016. On top of that, our universe of risk-on/risk-off ratios continues to lean toward the risk-off side of the scale. There are signs of budding pessimism (Consensus bulls have risen for the second week in a row and the NAAIM exposure index fails to register excessive pessimism) after the recent bounce in the major equity indexes. But without a strong enough reaction to produce meaningful breadth thrusts it’s difficult to be bullish on the broader market.
Sentiment Report Chart of the Week: Sentiment Composite Points To Opportunity
Sometimes the best approach is to set aside movements in individual indicators and look at an aggregate. Our Sentiment Composite has moved from being a market headwind in early 2021 to a tailwind now in 2022. After pessimism reaches an extreme, expanding optimism is bullish for stocks. At this point we want to see improved price action, renewed confidence from investors and sustained buying pressure.
