US Market Data: Indices, Forex & Crypto
Cross-asset market data for US equity indices, 18 forex pairs, and 12 major digital assets, with a reference guide to reading each one. The index chart below streams from TradingView during market hours; the forex and crypto tables are end-of-day snapshots captured by our pipeline after each US close — the timestamp above always shows the snapshot they belong to.
The guide below covers what the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Dow and Russell 2000 each measure, how the major currency pairs respond to central bank policy, and how VIX and the 10Y/2Y yield spread are read as macro risk signals. See also: daily US stock signals · US equities screener · sector rotation guide · quantitative research papers
Global Markets & Macro Data — Reference Guide
How to read this dashboard: what each index tracks, how forex pairs behave, what macro signals like VIX and yield curves actually mean for asset prices.
US Equity Indices
The S&P 500 is the primary benchmark for US large-cap equities — a market-cap-weighted index of 500 companies across all sectors. The NASDAQ 100 is technology-heavy, giving it a higher growth and volatility profile. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tracks 30 blue-chip stocks and is price-weighted, making it a coarser but widely cited gauge. The Russell 2000 measures small-cap performance and tends to lead in risk-on environments. Divergence between NASDAQ and Russell 2000 — technology outperforming while small-caps lag — often signals a narrow, momentum-driven rally rather than broad participation.
Forex & Currency Markets
The foreign exchange market trades over $7.5 trillion per day. EUR/USD — the world's most liquid currency pair — reflects the relative monetary policy stance between the ECB and the Federal Reserve. GBP/USD is sensitive to Bank of England decisions and UK macroeconomic releases. USD/JPY is a critical macro risk indicator: when the Bank of Japan maintains ultra-loose policy while the Fed tightens, the yen weakens and carry trades build. Sharp yen reversals (rapid JPY appreciation) are historically associated with forced carry trade unwinding and correlated equity market stress.
VIX & Yield Curve
The VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) measures the 30-day implied volatility of S&P 500 options — a real-time fear gauge. VIX below 15 indicates complacency; 20–30 signals elevated uncertainty; spikes above 40 historically coincide with forced institutional deleveraging and systemic stress. The 10Y/2Y Treasury yield spread (yield curve) is an independent recession leading indicator: inversion — when short-term rates exceed long-term rates — has preceded every US recession since 1955, typically by 12–18 months. Both signals are key inputs in quantitative macro allocation models.
Gold, Oil & Commodities
Gold exhibits negative correlation to real interest rates: when real yields fall (nominal rates minus CPI inflation), gold appreciates as the opportunity cost of holding a non-yielding asset decreases. It is the premier macro hedge asset and tends to outperform during dollar weakness and geopolitical uncertainty. WTI crude oil responds primarily to OPEC+ production decisions, US EIA inventory data, and global demand forecasts from the IEA. Energy price moves cascade into the CPI, influencing Fed policy expectations and cross-asset positioning across equities, bonds, and currencies simultaneously.
Crypto as a Macro Asset
Bitcoin has evolved from a speculative asset into an institutional portfolio component tracked alongside gold in macro allocation frameworks. It is sensitive to dollar strength, liquidity conditions, and risk appetite cycles. During periods of dollar weakness and loose monetary policy, Bitcoin and gold tend to outperform fixed income. Bitcoin's 4-year halving cycle — which reduces the mining reward by 50% — has historically been associated with 12–18 month bull cycle initiation. On-chain metrics such as exchange inflows, miner capitulation signals, and realized price levels provide quantitative context for medium-term positioning.
Related Quantitative Research
QuantMedia's research on VPIN order flow toxicity shows how informed trading probability spikes ahead of major index moves — a leading indicator visible in volume data before price adjusts. The Hierarchical Risk Parity paper provides a cross-asset allocation method robust to correlation breakdowns common during macro stress events. The Probabilistic Sharpe Ratio paper addresses how to evaluate risk-adjusted returns when comparing strategies across different volatility regimes — directly applicable to cross-asset macro portfolio construction.