Thank you for the feedback on our new format for the weekly market snapshots. One request was that we use a single axis for the chart below. We will display both this week. Let me know which you prefer.
US Stock Market
One axis illustrates how extreme stock pricing is, with the composite valuation indicator hovering close to 100 percent.
Two axes emphasize the weekly rises and falls in the composite valuation indicator, using the secondary axis on the right.
We revised the bull-bear market leading indicator at the end of April 2026 to improve responsiveness by reducing it to a composite of five key indicators. Currently, two of the five indicators signal risk-off, indicating a medium risk of a US bear market.
US Stock Pricing
US stock pricing remains at extreme levels. We changed the composition of the Forward PE and Price-to-Sales indicators at the end of April 2026, so earlier highs are not directly comparable.
We use z-scores to measure each indicator's current position relative to its historical data, with results expressed in standard deviations from the mean. We then average the five readings and convert that to a percentile. The higher the stock market price measure is relative to the historical mean, the greater the risk of a sharp drawdown.
Warren Buffett's favorite long-term measure of stock market valuation provides a stable valuation ratio largely unaffected by fluctuating profit margins.
The stock market capitalization-to-GDP ratio is more than double its long-term average of 1.2. Buffett considers values above 2.0 to indicate that stock prices are dangerously high.
Robert Shiller's CAPE smooths out business-cycle effects by comparing the S&P 500 index to a 10-year average of inflation-adjusted earnings.
The current advance on the CAPE ratio is the second-highest in history, behind only the 1999 peak during the Dotcom bubble at 44.2, with values far above its long-term average of 22.4.
Conclusion
The US Bull-Bear indicator, led by the transportation sector, flags a bear market, while the composite Stock Pricing indicator warns that stocks are extremely over-priced.
ASX Stock Market
The ASX Bull-Bear Leading Index signals a mild bear market.
Australian leading indicators account for 40% of the ASX Leading Index, China for 20%, and the US Leading Index for the remaining 40%.
The ASX 200 Financials Index (XFJ) is below its 50-week weighted moving average, and a breach of primary support at 9000 would signal risk-off.
The ASX 200 is above its 50-week moving average relative to Gold, but the long-term downtrend continues, with no higher troughs. The signal remains risk-off.
Performance of the ASX 200 Index relative to Gold (in Australian Dollars) reflects the real return on Australian Stocks.
ASX Stock Pricing
ASX stock pricing fell to 71.70% from 80.78% five weeks ago. Stock prices are falling, but the decline is not a buy signal.
We use z-scores to measure each indicator's current position relative to its historical data, with results expressed in standard deviations from the mean. We then average the five readings and convert that average to a percentile. The higher that stock market prices are relative to their historical mean, the greater the risk of a sharp drawdown.
The Forward Price-Earnings ratio for stocks in the ASX 20 uses a 20% trimmed mean to eliminate the highest and lowest readings. This avoids distortions of the average by outliers.
Conclusion
The ASX Bull-Bear indicator signals the early stages of a bear market, while the composite Stock Pricing indicator signals stocks are moderately over-priced.
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Colin Twiggs is a former investment banker with almost 40 years of experience in financial markets. He founded PVT Capital (AFSL number 546090), which provides income and growth strategies to wholesale clients.
Colin also co-founded Incredible Charts and writes the popular Patient Investor newsletter.
Using a top-down approach, Colin identifies macro trends in the global economy and then combines fundamental and technical analysis to evaluate opportunities in sectors that stand to benefit.
Focusing on interest rates and financial market liquidity as primary drivers of the economic cycle, he warned of the 2008/2009 and 2020 bear markets well ahead of actual events.
Thanks for listening Colin. Can I recommend adding some colour shaded bands to the bull bear chart to clearly represent the market phase. I think it will better represent the narrative.
Hi Michael, I tried shaded bands but couldn’t achieve an even color gradient. I will have to get some expert advice.