Traders might be in for a tough time the following two months, if the historical past of volatility spikes is any indication, in line with Financial institution of America Securities. Financial institution of America discovered that the S & P 500 usually is decrease two months after the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) spikes above 45. Wall Avenue’s so-called worry gauge surged to 65.73 final week amid a world market meltdown . That was the best degree for the index because the Covid-19 pandemic when it jumped to 85.47, in addition to the second-highest degree because the late 2008 peak of 89.53. Within the eight weeks after such a volatility surge, the S & P 500 is greater solely 40% of the time and loses 0.72% on a median foundation, BofA information reveals. Usually, the broad market index beneficial properties 66% of the time and advances 1.95% on a median foundation. “These SPX returns recommend that point is required for the US fairness market to stabilize after a VIX spike,” Stephen Suttmeier, technical analysis strategist at BofA Securities, wrote in a word. “It additionally factors to lackluster to weaker returns previous to the Presidential election, which strains up with election 12 months seasonality.” .VIX YTD bar VIX 12 months up to now To make certain, it isn’t all unhealthy information. The Vix has since fallen again to only under 20 — a standard studying that signifies markets have returned to a risk-on bias, maybe terribly after final week’s strikes. A studying above 20 is taken into account bearish, and signifies elevated ranges of worry and uncertainty out there. Traders with an extended time horizon are additionally more likely to recoup the losses seen after a volatility spice. Roughly three months after a Vix spike, the broad market index is greater 80% of the time, gaining 5.17% on a median foundation, per BofA. One 12 months later, the S & P 500 is up 80% of the time, rallying 18.18% on a median foundation. That mentioned, indicators of near-term market struggles are displaying up. The S & P 500 on Monday flip-flopped between beneficial properties and losses, struggling to comply with by in the marketplace resurgence seen late final week that almost worn out the index’s week-to-date losses. If this sort of market motion is any indication, buyers ought to brace for a more durable path forward.