Chart of the Day 📈 8/1/25: What to Do as Market Concerns Creep in

Mike Larson | Editor-in-Chief

No, I’m not seeing anyone run for the hills. But I am seeing signs of concern CREEP in.

That’s how I’d sum up today’s markets. And by “markets,” I don’t mean just stocks. I’m also talking about currencies, volatility, and high-yield bonds.

Take a look at the MoneyShow Chart of the Day. It shows the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), and the US High Yield CCC or Below Option Adjusted Spread. They show how the greenback and stocks are trading – as well as how much concern, uncertainty, and/or fear is being priced into equity and bond markets.

Where the Dollar, Stocks, Volatility, and High-Yield Spreads Stand

Data by YCharts

No, we’re not seeing panic like we did in April. But the dollar is turning higher. Volatility is perking up a bit. And the yield premium that investors are demanding to buy the highest-risk bonds relative to underlying US Treasuries is climbing modestly.

So, yes, concern IS creeping in.

Frankly, it’s understandable given how far the averages have come. We’ve also seen many of the riskiest stocks in the market soar, as Gav Blaxberg of Wolf Financial and Tom Bruni at Stocktwits noted in this week’s MoneyShow MoneyMasters Podcast.

The Federal Reserve just refused to cut rates again, too. Plus, most countries on Planet Earth are soon going to be paying tariffs between 15% and 50%.

So, yes, I think you might want to play your cards closer to the vest. Or in other words, if you’re a trader, lighten up.

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