It’s Sir John Templeton, a famous investment pioneer, who said, “Bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism and die on euphoria.” (Source: Sir John Templeton.org, last accessed January 10, 2013.) Templeton’s quote reminds me of the stock market today. We’re still seeing a rally in the S&P 500 index (while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is stagnant). As the S&P 500 rallies and key stock indices break above their previous highs, I become more skeptical about future returns from stocks. I see a wave of optimism pouring into the stock markets. Stock advisors and investors alike are turning optimistic about the outlook of key stock indices—meanwhile, nothing has really changed in the U.S. economy or elsewhere in the global economy. Dear reader, if there is one thing you take away from my commentaries each day, I hope it is this: the general consensus, what the majority of people believe, usually doesn’t happen. In the fall of 2007, when key stock indices were at record highs, we heard calls for the stock market to go much higher. But it collapsed instead. In 2009, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a low of 6,440, pessimism reigned and the outlook was for even lower stock prices. But, instead, the second biggest bear market rally in history began and key stock indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose quickly. Right now, the popular media, stock advisors, and investors are as bullish as I’ve seen them. I read something the other day that said me and Gary Shilling are the last bears standing. This can’t be good! Investor sentiment is getting much too complacent? The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Volatility Index (VIX) is showing investor sentiment turning optimistic big-time. The VIX essentially shows the level of fear in the key stock indices.   Chart courtesy of www.StockCharts.com Since the beginning of the year, the VIX has fallen off a cliff, meaning investors hold a very optimistic view on the key stock indices. As optimism increases and key stock indices rise a little further, you shouldn’t get lured into believing that the stock market is going much higher. The structural, fundamental problems of the economy haven’t been fixed and some big-cap companies are still struggling. If stock advisors and investors are optimistic on the health of the global economy, they are wrong. The eurozone continues to weaken, global trade is deteriorating, and even emerging markets are starting to struggle. I’m seeing increased optimism based on a whole lot of nothing. What He Said: “The U.S. lowered interest rates in 2004 to their lowest level in 46 years. And what did Americans do with their access ... Read More