Market Panic? This Chart Says It’s Almost Over - 5/17

Always Watch the Fear Gauge for Pivot Points

If you're looking for signs of when the market might reverse course, there’s one signal that consistently delivers: the Volatility Index (VIX) — often referred to as the “fear gauge” of the market.

And right now, it’s flashing some serious signals.

The VIX was recently sitting at its second-highest level over the past year, and it’s not just the raw number that’s telling. On a technical level, the VIX is stretched on RSI (Relative Strength Index), MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence), and Williams’ %R—three classic indicators used by traders to spot overbought or oversold conditions.

Historically, when the VIX gets this “hot,” a reversal is not far behind. And when that reversal begins, the market tends to pivot higher. This presents a golden opportunity to load up on call options or ETFs tied to major indices such as the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA).

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History Repeats for the VIX

Let’s backtest that theory. If you review the VIX dating back to early 2022, you’ll notice a repeating pattern: each time the index spiked to a stretched technical level—confirmed by RSI, MACD, and Williams’ %R—a pullback soon followed.

For example:

May 2022: VIX peaked and reversed. Market bounced.

September 2022: Same pattern. Strong upside followed.

October 2022: Another spike in fear, another opportunity.

March 2023: VIX hits elevated levels, technicals scream overbought, and markets pivot upward.

October 2023, April 2024, August 2024, December 2024—the list continues.

Each time the VIX hit a wall, those who acted—buying calls on DIA, QQQ, or SPY—were rewarded.

This isn’t magic. It’s just human psychology at scale. When fear peaks, it often marks maximum pessimism—which tends to be a contrarian indicator.

The Dow Is Oversold – Another Clue

The VIX isn't the only signal flashing green for contrarian bulls.

Take a look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which is now hugging its 200-day moving average—a key support level often watched by institutional investors and algo-driven systems.

The Dow is also showing oversold readings across multiple indicators: RSI, MACD, Williams’ %R, and Full Stochastics. While macroeconomic headwinds such as inflation, recession worries, and renewed tariff fears continue to cloud the outlook, the technical setup points to a relief rally being just around the corner.

Markets are emotional. They overreact. Panic builds. Investors rush for the exits—and that creates dislocations that nimble traders can exploit.

Volatility: Not Just a Signal—An Opportunity

When the VIX spikes, it’s not just a warning signal. It’s an opportunity to profit—on both sides of the market.

Yes, you can buy call options on major indices or go long ETFs like DIA, QQQ, or SPY. But there’s also a powerful way to play the other side of volatility directly—by shorting it.

That’s where inverse volatility ETFs come into play.

Two notable funds include:
ETF: ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (SYM: SVXY)

SVXY seeks to provide daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to -0.5x the performance of the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index. Essentially, when the VIX drops, SVXY goes up—though at a half-inverse rate. With an expense ratio of 0.95%, it's designed more for short-term trading than long-term holding.

ETF: -1x Short VIX Futures ETF (SYM: SVIX)

SVIX goes further, seeking to match the inverse (1x) of the Short VIX Futures Index on a daily basis. According to VolatilityShares.com, this ETF is intended for tactical traders looking to capitalize on a falling VIX. Keep in mind: due to daily rebalancing and compounding, these ETFs are not meant for buy-and-hold investors—they’re tools for short-term execution.

Don’t Fear the Fear Gauge—Use It

Volatility can be intimidating, especially for newer traders. But the key is not to fear fear—it’s to understand it.

When the VIX spikes, it often means that investor sentiment has become overly negative. Headlines scream about collapsing stocks, recession signals, and geopolitical risk. But beneath the panic, technical indicators are quietly setting the stage for a bounce.

In short: watch the VIX, understand its technical setup, and prepare to take advantage of the inevitable reversion to the mean.

This doesn’t mean you blindly buy every dip or short every spike. It means you monitor setups, look for confirmation, and strike when the odds are in your favor.

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Written by Ian Cooper

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