======================================= RISK-OFF & RISK ON INDEX ================================================
1. Stock Price Momentum: Measuring the Standard & Poor's 500 Index ( S&P 500 ) versus its 125-day moving average (MA)
2. Stock Price Strength: Calculating the number of stocks hitting 52-week highs versus those hitting 52-week lows on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
3. Stock Price Breadth: Analyzing trading volumes in rising stocks against declining stocks
4. Put and Call Options: How much do put options lag behind call options, signifying greed, or surpass them, indicating fear
5. Junk Bond Demand: Gauging appetite for higher risk strategies by measuring the spread between yields on investment-grade bonds and junk bonds
6. Market Volatility: CNN measures the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index ( VIX ), concentrating on a 50-day MA
7. Safe Haven Demand: The difference in returns for stocks versus treasuries
Each of these seven indicators is measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with the index being computed by taking an equal-weighted average of each of them. A reading of 50 is deemed NEUTRAL. Above 50 signals the market with RISK-ON. (GREED) Below 50, Signals the market with RISK-OFF (FEAR) 8