The stock market advanced higher in the first week of the year. Both the market volatility and market momentum remained at very low levels. The S&P 500 index has stretched the final upward leg of its multi-month butterfly pattern with an extension over 1.6 which has a bearish indication of approaching a top reversal. Oil Equipment, Semiconductors, and Consumer Goods sectors ranked as the top three sectors with mostly strong technical strengths. The US dollar bounced from a falling wedge pattern last week, and added a pressure to gold and silver. The 30-year US treasury bond remained in its bearish downtrend pattern. The broad stock market is projected to be in a short-term bullish time-window until 1/19/2021.

The Broad Market Instability Index (BIX), measured from over 8000 U.S. stocks, closed at 1 on Friday 1/8/2021 (down from 8 the previous week) which is below the panic threshold level of 42 and indicates a bullish market. The Wilshire 5000 index is above the 89-day exponential moving average, and the momentum is slightly positive. Based on the forecast of the Leading Wave Index (LWX), the broad stock market is projected to be in a short-term bullish time-window until 1/19/2021.

The daily chart below has the Wilshire 5000 index with both the BIX and the Momentum indicators. The current market status is summarized as follows:

The following table ranks sectors by using the StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) based on six key indicators which cover long-term, medium-term and short-term timeframes. Outperforming sectors are Oil Equipment, Semiconductors, and Consumer Goods. Underperforming sectors are Precious Metals, Real Estate, and Utilities.

As shown in the weekly chart below, since October of 2018, the SPX has been in a primary corrective wave [W]–[X]–[Y] sequence. Primary flat wave [W] ended late March, and primary upward wave [X] has started. Primary upward wave [X] is going to have intermediate (a)–(b)–(c) three-wave sequence. Currently it is in intermediate upward wave (c) which is the last intermediate upward wave before the next primary downward wave [Y] starts.

The S&P 500 index on daily chart is forming a 4-month butterfly pattern which is a reversal pattern composed of four legs marked X-A, A-B, B-C and C-D. This pattern suggests that the stock market is heading for a major bearish reversal. The C-D leg is the final and most important part of the pattern. The C-D leg very often extends forming a 1.27 or 1.618 extension of the A-B leg. Currently the C-D leg on the SPX chart has 1.627 extension which is beyond the target range. Watch out for a market top.

In the following weekly chart, since early March the German DAX index has been in primary upward wave [X] which will have an intermediate (a)–(b)–(c) three-wave sequence. Currently it is in intermediate upward wave (c).

The India Bombay Stock Exchange 30 Sensex index is forming a 3-month rising wedge pattern. It is bullish as long as the price stays above the lower boundary of the wedge.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite index formed a 6-month horizontal trading range between 3200 and 3450. The price broke above the upper boundary of the range. It is bullish with an upside price target projected at 3750.

In the following weekly chart, the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite index is forming a 1.5-year rising wedge pattern. It is bullish as long as the price is above the lower boundary of the wedge.

The 30-year U.S. treasury bond index is forming a 6-month downtrend channel pattern. It is bearish before the price breaks above the upper boundary of the channel.

The U.S. dollar index formed a 2-month falling wedge pattern. The price broke the upper boundary of the wedge. It is bullish with an upside price target projected at 92.

The gold index is forming a 7-month symmetrical triangle pattern. It is neutral before the price breaks out from the triangle.

The silver index is forming a 5-month descending triangle pattern. It is neutral before the price breaks out from the triangle.

The crude oil index formed a 2.5-month symmetrical triangle pattern. The price has broken above the upper boundary. It is bullish with an upside price target projected at 48. The price has moved up beyond the price target.

The following table ranks asset class by using the StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) based on six key indicators which cover long-term, medium-term and short-term timeframes. Currently equity is outperforming and the US treasury bond is underperforming.