The stock market's fear gauge needs to spike up significantly before the bear market bottoms out

US stock market traders
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  • The US stock market won't find a bottom until there's a "large panic-induced drop," The Kobeissi Letter told investors on Tuesday. 
  • There's never been a bear-market bottom without the VIX reaching 45+, the capital markets newsletter told investors.
  • That so-called fear index would need to rise 61% from its current level to hit 45. 
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The bleeding in the S&P 500 this year is unlikely to stop until there's a frenzied level of selling in the stock market, one financial newsletter told investors on Tuesday. 

The S&P 500 dropped Tuesday, with nine of its 11 sectors in the red. The index has lost 22% from the all-time high of 4,818.62 it reached six months ago. 

"This market will not bottom until we see a large panic-induced drop," The Kobeissi Letter said in a message on Twitter.

"We are well into bear market territory but panic selling has yet to begin. No bear market in history has bottomed without $VIX at 45+," the newsletter focusing on global capital markets said, referring to the Cboe volatility index.

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The VIX, known as Wall Street's fear gauge, was just above 28 on Tuesday, and the index would need to rise by about 61% to hit 45. So far this year, it had already gained 65%. 

"This market will not bottom until we see a large panic-induced drop," the newsletter said. 

Investors have slammed equities lower as they foresee a recession on the horizon with the Federal Reserve ramping up borrowing costs to cool down scorching inflation. Rising energy prices contributed to US consumer price inflation accelerating to 8.6% in May, the fastest pace since December 1981. The Federal Open Market Committee this year has pushed up the fed funds rate to a range of 1.5% to 1.75% from the ultra-low range of 0% to 0.25%.

Investors are waiting to see if the central bank at its July 26-27 meeting will raise the rate range by another 50 basis points or by another 75 basis points.   

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"We are seeing widespread liquidation of everything. Stocks, commodities, treasury yields, and crypto are all down together," The Kobeissi Letter said in a separate tweet on Tuesday

"This is what happens when you raise rates into a recession. Everyone wants cash," it said.

A chart shows the VIX's 2022 performance through July 5.
A chart shows the VIX's 2022 performance through July 5 and the so-called fear gauge has risen 65%. Markets Insider
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