Nick’s Note: As we told you last week, volatility is back. Today, master trader and PBRG friend Jeff Clark explains why it’s going to last a while…


By Jeff Clark, editor, Delta Report

If you fell asleep last month, and then just woke up this morning, you wouldn’t notice much of a difference in the broad stock market.

The S&P 500 started the morning of April 13 at about 2670. The index closed just under that level last Friday. So, there hasn’t been much movement.

But there has been a whole bunch of volatility.

Over the past month, the S&P 500 has traded as high as 2708 and as low as 2604. That’s a 104-point trading range—or about 4%—in just a month.

Let that sink in for a minute. What a difference between this year and last year.

In 2017, the market suffered from record-low volatility. I can’t count the number of times I commented on the ridiculously small daily trading ranges in the S&P 500. In a market with millions of participants, and trillions of dollars at work, it seemed outrageous—to me at least—that the average intraday move in the stock market was less than 0.4%.

Recommended Link

FREE EVENT – ONE NIGHT ONLY: For the First Time, Master Trader Jeff Clark Reveals How to Profit from the Coming Tidal Wave Of Volatility

2018 is the choppiest market in 7 years. We’ve already seen the single-largest one-day point drop in the history of the Dow – and the worst start to an April since 1929.

But this is just the beginning…

And while the average investor sells their stocks and stays the heck out of the market… this is the type of opportunity where traders get rich.

Sign up for this free event, and master trader Jeff Clark will show you how.

Details here

Of course, that’s certainly not the case so far in 2018. Ever since the market peaked in January, we’ve seen huge intraday moves in the S&P 500. It’s not uncommon anymore to see swings of more than 2% between the daily highs and lows.

That’s a dramatic increase in volatility. And it’s here to stay for a while.

Low levels of volatility are always followed by higher levels of volatility. We had low volatility for almost all of 2017. So, I expect we’ll see high volatility for almost all of this year.

Take a look at this long-term chart of the Volatility Index (VIX) (Wall Street’s so-called fear gauge) from way back, starting in 2005…

From 2005 through about mid-2007, the VIX traded at low levels—between about 10 and 16. Yes, there were a couple of times in that period when the VIX spiked sharply higher. But it was temporary. The VIX quickly fell back into its depressed range.

Notice, though, that starting in mid-2007, the VIX spiked higher, and it sustained that higher level for the next two and a half years.

In other words, the period of low volatility that lasted for two-and-a-half years from 2005 until mid-2007… was followed by a period of high volatility that also lasted for two-and-a-half years.

Here’s a more recent chart of the VIX…

The VIX spent 14 months trading in a depressed range between 9 and 16. In February, the VIX spiked sharply higher, and it has sustained a higher level. This new period of higher volatility ought to last at least as long as the previous period of low volatility.

So, get used to larger moves in the stock market. This condition is going to last for a while.

Best regards and good trading,

Jeff Clark
Editor, Delta Report

P.S. On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, I’m holding a free online training to show you the No. 1 way to trade the market right now. I call it the “V-Line Breakthrough.” And it’s all about showing you how to profit from periods of volatility.

It’s my favorite way to trade today’s market for 1,093% bigger gains than average.

Registration is free. Plus, as a bonus, all attendees will receive a free special report of my most valuable trading tools. Click here to reserve your spot.

Recommended Link

Must-see footage: This man’s secret could make you $15,000 richer

This man never graduated from college – in fact, he worked most of his career at Home Depot. But he invented something that uncovers opportunities to collect thousands of dollars in extra cash in a matter of SECONDS. Live on camera, watch him become $1,050 richer in 15 seconds… $940 richer in 11 seconds… $1,260 richer in 8 seconds… and $988 richer in 7 seconds. And he’s prepared to show you something that could set you up for an extra $2,918… instantly.

Click here to learn now

MAILBAG

Income Extermination is a big theme we’ve been following this year in the Daily. And our readers our looking for ways to sidestep this ticking time bomb…

From Pam D.: I’m interested in a list of companies to avoid during Income Extermination. I like to look at debt/equity and PEG ratios. However, without knowing the specific sector’s accounting norms, I’m not sure what to sidestep.  

I’m also curious about the effect that increasing interest rates will have on real estate investment trusts (REITs). Seems like this sector refinances frequently.

From Jim D.: I would like to see a list of stocks to avoid regarding your Income Extermination thesis.

From R.E. Dickson: In the May 2 Daily, you wrote that “the next stage of Income Extermination will hit marginally profitable companies with lots of debt… Especially if they must roll over their debt in the next year or two. If you’re interested in a list of companies to avoid, let us know right here.”

Absolutely. This is very important information.

From Michael W.: I would be interested in a list of companies with high debt that we should avoid.

From Fred S.: You asked if we’d like a list of the companies most vulnerable to rising interest rates. I’d like to see such a list.

From Diane A.: Yes, I’m interested in learning the names of companies to avoid during Income Extermination. I also would like an explanation of how municipal bonds will play out during Income Extermination.

We always hear about corporate bonds… But we don’t really hear about municipal bonds and what to look out for. An explanation of muni and corporate bonds and how they move or don’t move in unison with rates and market factors would be very much welcomed. And kudos to your insightful analysis.

Nick’s Reply: Municipal bonds follow the same set of rules as corporate bonds. As interest rates go up, the bond prices go down. Our advice is to avoid long-term muni and corporate bonds during Income Extermination.

Meanwhile, PBRG’s very own Teeka Tiwari and his team are working on a blueprint to survive Income Extermination. Stay tuned…

Are you preparing for Income Extermination? Tell us what your plan is right here

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

We’re excited to announce that Teeka just released a new Cryptocurrency Master Course in partnership with media personality Glenn Beck.

Glenn doesn’t make recommendations often or lightly… but he believes Teeka’s new online course could be one of the best investments of your life. (Click here or the image below to watch Glenn’s testimonial.)

This course will teach you the ABCs of cryptocurrencies and their underlying blockchain technology. It includes video lessons, instructional guides, downloadable resources, and a free electronic copy of Teeka’s new book on cryptocurrencies, New World Money.

Here’s the good news… If you’re a Palm Beach Letter subscriber, you can access the course for free. Just click here and log in with your PBL username and password.

If you’re not a Palm Beach Letter subscriber, learn how you can register right here