What to look at
| Area | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Major indexes (S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000) | Overall direction; large versus small companies |
| Sectors | Where money is flowing. See Market leadership cycles |
| VIX | How nervous the market is |
| 10-year Treasury yield | Borrowing costs; higher yields weigh on growth stocks |
| Breadth | Whether the move is broad or narrow |
| Trend | Indexes versus their The 200-day moving average |
A five-minute routine
- Are the main indexes above or below their 200-day averages?
- Is the VIX calm (under 20), elevated (20 to 30) or fearful (over 30)?
- Which sectors led and lagged this week?
- Did yields move sharply?
- Any news on companies you own or watch?
What not to do
A daily overview is for context. Most days it should change nothing in a long-term plan. If it regularly makes you want to trade, check less often. See Investor or trader.
See also
- The VIX (volatility index) What the VIX fear index measures, how it is calculated from S&P 500 options, what VIX levels mean, its history of spikes, and why it tends to mean-revert.
- Market breadth What market breadth measures, the common breadth indicators such as advance-decline and percent above the 200-day average, and why narrow rallies are fragile.
- The 200-day moving average Why the 200-day moving average is the most-watched trend line in investing, what the research shows about markets above and below it, and its weaknesses.
- AAII sentiment survey What the weekly AAII investor sentiment survey measures, its long-run averages, historical extremes, and how contrarian investors read bearish readings.
Last updated September 30, 2026. Education only, not investment advice.