Understand how big banks, hedge funds, and commercials are positioning themselves in Indices. Analyze institutional money flows to identify historical extremes and gain a deeper understanding of underlying market dynamics.
Standard vs. E-Mini vs. Micro: Futures contracts come in different sizes to accommodate different traders. The Standard contract is often too expensive, so exchanges introduced E-Mini (a fraction of the standard size) and later Micro E-Mini (1/10th of the E-Mini) contracts. E-Mini contracts typically offer the most reliable "Smart Money" signals because they have the highest liquidity among major institutional investors.
Identifying Extremes: "Commercials" (institutions hedging risk) are often permanently net-short to protect against market crashes. Conversely, "Non-Commercials" (speculative funds) are usually net-long. The key is to watch for extreme deviations from historical averages to spot overextended, "overbought" or "oversold" markets.
Tracks the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), measuring stock market expectations of volatility based on S&P 500 options (the 'fear gauge').
Tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average, representing 30 prominent, blue-chip US companies. This is an 'E-Mini' contract (a fraction of the standard contract size).
Tracks the Nasdaq-100, composed of the 100 largest non-financial (heavily tech) companies. This is an 'E-Mini' contract (a fraction of the standard contract size).
Tracks the Nasdaq-100, composed of the 100 largest non-financial (heavily tech) companies. This is a 'Micro' contract (1/10th the size of an E-Mini), making it highly accessible.
Tracks the Russell 2000, measuring the performance of small-cap US companies (a barometer for the domestic economy). This is an 'E-Mini' contract (a fraction of the standard contract size).
Tracks the S&P 500, considered the best overall gauge of the 500 largest US publicly traded companies. This is an 'E-Mini' contract (a fraction of the standard contract size).
Tracks the S&P 500, considered the best overall gauge of the 500 largest US publicly traded companies. This is a 'Micro' contract (1/10th the size of an E-Mini), making it highly accessible.
Tracks the S&P MidCap 400, serving as a gauge for mid-sized US companies. This is an 'E-Mini' contract (a fraction of the standard contract size).
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK) (NYSE:BRK) shares have hit new all-time highs several times this year, including Monday. The new highs come as Greg Abel takes over as CEO from legendary investor Warr...
With dividends, the S&P 500 has had six calendar-year losses since 2000. Berkshire's stock beat the index in all those years and gained in four of them.
Warren Buffett famously said to “never bet against America” and encouraged investors to buy a low-cost S&P 500 index fund. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has delivered average annual returns of about 13....
Although he compounded Berkshire Hathaway's stock at nearly 20% annually for six decades, Buffett is a huge fan of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The stock market's current valuation and AI's uncertain ...
The S&P 500 index fund in Buffett's bet returned 125.8% from 2008 through 2017, topping all five funds of hedge funds chosen against it. Since the end of 2017, a Vanguard S&P 500 fund has more than...
Alphabet, a top-three holding, could become an important driver of Berkshire Hathaway's returns. The internet giant, which competes across the AI industry, gives Greg Abel exposure to a hyperscaler.
Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate that isn't dependent on any single industry. Its diversification provides multiple sources of earnings and cash flow.
Gold prices took a hit in September, but gold mining stocks tell a different story. The sector delivered a 17.4% return in the third quarter, outperforming every S&P 500 sector and leaving the broa...
Visa and Mastercard possess network effects, sizable growth runways, and incredible financials. Ackman sees both of them posting high-teens earnings growth over the next three to five years.
Visa and Mastercard possess network effects, sizable growth runways, and incredible financials. Ackman sees both of them posting high-teens earnings growth over the next three to five years.
The S&P 500 is poised to move closer to its first record high since August as bonds rally and lower oil prices help ease worries over inflation. OpenAI is said to be in talks with BlackRock and mul...
Conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK) (NYSE:BRK) has gone through several major changes over the past nine months, with longtime CEO Warren Buffett stepping down as CEO at the start of the yea...
Berkshire Hathaway and S&P 500 index funds are both smart, all-around choices for long-term investors. Although both are solid buy-and-hold investments, they're distinctly different in a way that m...
Berkshire's B shares are up about 2% in 2026 as of this writing, while the S&P 500 has gained about 11%. Since 1990, Berkshire has trailed the index by 10 or more percentage points nine times -- an...
Even after trimming its holdings in recent years, Apple is still Berkshire Hathaway's biggest public equities position. Valuation is a concern for the "Magnificent Seven" stock, but its size means ...
Wall Street finds itself sharply divided over the market's trajectory as billionaire investor Ray Dalio flags classic signs of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, even as Evercore ISI projects ...
Three S&P 500 covered-call ETFs advertise monthly income that looks nearly identical on the surface.
The S&P 500 just reached a new high, but the index still trades at a reasonable valuation compared to projected earnings growth. Warren Buffett says investors should aim to buy reasonably priced st...
The famed investor says watch out after that S&P 500 surge on Tuesday. He's not budging from some bearish tech views.
If any investor has stood the test of time, it's Warren Buffett, and with good reason.
The U.S.
The S&P 500 Shiller CAPE ratio is on the verge of reaching its highest reading in 155 years. At its current level, the CAPE ratio suggests valuations are overextended.
Quarterly-filed Form 13Fs allow investors to track which stocks Wall Street's smartest money managers have been buying and selling. Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller bid adieu to Alphabet stock in ...
With 2026 a bit more than half over, Berkshire Hathaway's B shares are down 1.8% year-to-date and 12.4 percentage points behind the S&P 500's 10.7% gain.