STOCK MARKET BEARISH -- SHORT

Keybot the Quant flipped short on Friday after King Donnie tanked the stock market. The bears are controlling the stock market currently with the algo number 40 points below the signal line. The robot is tracking copper, commodities, banks, retail stocks and volatility as the key drivers of stock market direction. Copper is the only metric that is in the bull camp creating market lift; the other four are in the bear camp creating market angst and selling pressure.

The bull/bear lines in the sand, that will be a good judge for yinz for most of the week ahead, are CPER 29.58, GTX 3814.75, XLF 53.10, XRT 84, and VIX 16.60. Any move by these parameters across their lines in the sand sends the stock market in that same direction. Easy-peasy.

XRT is at 81 so that will be quite a lift to get back on the bull side. XLF is only about -2% below its critical number and that can be made up if the bankster earnings are joyful. It likely leads to long-time trouble and market downside if XLF cannot recover above 53.10 this week. Volatility shot skyward after Donnie's tariff comments and the bears are happy to see the VIX above 21. GTX is only a few dollars away from the bull/bear line in the sand so you can sneeze and it will pop back above.

CPER is +2.3% above the bull/bear line in the sand so the bulls will try to keep the red metal in their camp, otherwise, all hope will be lost for the stock market. Watch the copper futures.

What does all this mumbo-jumbo mean as the Pennsylvania leaves turn color and the Laurel Highlands lights-up in a brilliant Autumn display. California Dreamin'. They sure could sing.

XLF, GTX, VIX and CPER will tell the story for the week ahead. Check VIX and copper futures overnight for hints of what will happen in the US session. The bulls likely need all 3 metrics, banks, commodities, and volatility, to jump back into their camp to save the day and keep their rally hopes alive. Two of the three will likely not cut it. If copper drops more than -2%, it may place a crash on the table. It's fun.

Keybot the Quant prints one prescheduled number this week on Friday morning before the opening bell. Banks, commodities and copper are the focus as the new week begins.

10/19/25; 7:00 PM EST =
10/17/25; 9:00 AM EST =
10/12/25; 7:00 PM EST =-1; signal line is +39 but algorithm remains long
10/10/25; 11:33 AM EST = -1; signal line is +41 but algorithm remains long