Some Great Alternative Indices to Keep on Your Radar

As mentioned in a previous post, as part of the new FinanceHub, there's a new Market Overview page. This page is designed to provide useful information enabling a reader to quickly get a snapshot of the current state of the financial market, without it being overwhelming. Being an informed investor isn't about knowing everything—it's about filtering and prioritizing the news, data, and signals that impact your investment thesis'. With that in mind, the Market Overview page includes a section dedicated to alternative indices. While these represent just a few indices, each serves a unique purpose, offering valuable insights into market behavior.

Tracking these indices gives you a broader toolkit to interpret market trends, providing early signals on shifts in investor sentiment, economic health, and risk tolerance. By keeping an eye on factors like market volatility, bond spreads, and even shipping rates, you can assemble a more complete picture of market forces, positioning yourself to make smarter, more informed decisions. Below is a table outlining the indices, what they track, and why they're worth paying attention to.

Ticker	Name	What?	Why?
VIX	CBOE Volatility Index	Measures the market’s expected volatility over the next 30 days, derived from S&P 500 options prices.	A rising VIX signals growing uncertainty and risk aversion, often preceding market corrections. If you see the VIX trending upward, it may be time to consider hedging or increasing your cash reserves to brace for potential volatility.
PCC	Put-Call Ratio	Compares the volume of put options (bearish) to call options (bullish) being traded.	A high Put-Call Ratio indicates growing bearish sentiment, while a low ratio suggests bullishness. Extreme readings often signal that market participants are overly one-sided, making it a contrarian indicator. A spike in the ratio could suggest it's time to prepare for a market rebound or sell-off.
NYGBIG	ICE BofA New York Municipal Bond Index	Tracks the performance of investment-grade municipal bonds issued in New York.	Municipal bonds are seen as safe havens, especially in volatile markets. Strong performance in this index suggests increasing demand for tax-free, stable returns, often a sign of investor flight to safety. Rising interest in munis may indicate broader market caution or volatility on the horizon.
SP500_PE_RATIO_MONTH	S&P 500 Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Monthly)	Displays the average price-to-earnings ratio of companies in the S&P 500, updated monthly.	A rising P/E ratio suggests that investors are willing to pay more for earnings, which can indicate optimism but also potential overvaluation. Monitoring this ratio helps you gauge whether the market is approaching a speculative bubble or offering opportunities to buy undervalued assets.
SP500_PE_RATIO_YEAR	S&P 500 Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Yearly)	Tracks the yearly average P/E ratio of the S&P 500 for a more long-term view.	By smoothing out monthly volatility, this annualized ratio gives a clearer picture of long-term market valuations. If the ratio is elevated over a sustained period, it could suggest that the market is overheating and might face a correction, making it a signal to reconsider equity exposure.
NQCAPSG	Nasdaq 100 Equal Weighted Growth Index	Tracks the performance of growth stocks in the Nasdaq 100 with equal weighting.	Because no single stock dominates, this index gives a more balanced perspective on growth stocks. If this index underperforms the market-cap weighted version, it could indicate that only a few large companies are propping up the market, signaling a potential fragility in broader growth.
BDI	Baltic Dry Index	Reflects global shipping rates for bulk commodities like iron ore and grain.	The BDI is a leading indicator of global economic health. Rising shipping rates suggest increasing demand for raw materials, signaling economic expansion. Conversely, falling rates often precede slowdowns, making this a critical indicator for global growth forecasts. Adjusting your exposure to cyclical sectors based on BDI trends can help mitigate risk.
EMBASKET	Emerging Markets Currency Basket	Measures the performance of a basket of emerging market currencies relative to a major currency, usually the U.S. dollar.	A strengthening currency basket indicates growing confidence in emerging markets, while a weakening one suggests instability or risk aversion. This index can help you time entries and exits in emerging markets, especially during periods of global economic uncertainty.
SHILLER_PE_RATIO_MONTH	Shiller P/E Ratio (Monthly)	Tracks the cyclically adjusted P/E ratio (CAPE), based on inflation-adjusted earnings over the past 10 years.	This long-term indicator smooths out short-term fluctuations, helping to identify whether the market is overvalued or undervalued relative to historical averages. A high Shiller P/E might indicate frothy markets, while a lower value could suggest a good long-term buying opportunity.
SHILLER_PE_RATIO_YEAR	Shiller P/E Ratio (Yearly)	The annualized version of the Shiller P/E ratio provides a broader, historical view of market valuations.	Tracking this index helps to assess long-term valuation cycles, offering clues about whether the market is entering a period of extended gains or preparing for a correction. It's an essential tool for long-term positioning in both bull and bear markets.

Taken together, these alternative financial indices paint a more complete picture of market conditions than just looking at major stock indices. Each of these indicators shines a light on different aspects of the market—volatility, credit risk, economic activity, or sector-specific performance. Why It's Important to Gauge Current Market Conditions and Short-Term Outlook

I keep a close watch on market conditions and short-term outlooks for one key reason: to adjust my cash allocation.

If I sense that the market is becoming overheated—often indicated by rising P/E ratios, a climbing VIX, or increasing demand for safe-haven assets like municipal bonds—I will increase my cash reserves. This strategy allows me to take advantage of better buying opportunities before the market eventually pulls back.

Conversely, if market signals suggest upward momentum, such as a strengthening emerging markets currency basket, improving global shipping rates, or a drop in volatility, I will reduce my cash allocation and increase my stock positions.

By staying attuned to these indices, I can (albeit in quite a limited manner since I'm not using derivatives or other hedging instruments) position my portfolio to protect against downside risks to some extent while also capitalizing on potential gains. This approach aligns with my long-term investment strategy. After all, if you can get the same value at a cheaper price, that's a good thing. "Price is what you pay, value is what you get." — Warren Buffett

By J