Saxo-Market-Call_Platform_1920x1280_Test 5

What now after the "biblical vol reset"?

Podcast 22 minutes to read
Saxo Logo
Saxo Market Call

Summary:  Today, a look at the US market completing one of its most remarkable comebacks ever as it ramped off recently lows to hit new all time highs in such quick order, even as high oil prices linger. We note the types of names that advanced and the lack of market breadth, wondering how the market will develop from here now that volatility has been crushed and with the heart of earnings season on tap over the next two weeks. Also, a look at the remaining questions over Iran, latest action in currencies and much more. Today's pod is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy.



Listen to the full episode now
or follow the Saxo Market Call on your favorite podcast app.

Today’s Links

So exactly how remarkable has the recent US market behaviour been?
Very! Warren Pies breaks it down for us.

Can you build a Bloomberg terminal entirely with AI for free?
Michael Kao is trying - certainly not free in terms of the labor applied or the expertise needed to know how to go about this attempt. A great and superbly written substack post on the lessons he has learned along the way in building something quite remarkable and with some interesting conclusions. Try the product out here - it is amazing.

Why US equity market valuations are where they are - and why it might change.
This Odd Lots podcast rhymes with the points made by Peter Garnry on his most recent Saxo Market Call appearance in Februarywhen he talked about “the great pool of profits” the Mag7 created, one that may be running much lower, at least in terms of growth and size relative to the economy.

A Substack posttrying to figure out why US sentiment readings are so poor in a supposedly okay economy.

TLDR on stablecoins and US “reclaiming financial sovereignty” via their use.
white paper for anyone not up to speed on this(I include myself to a degree in that group still - also a bookmark for me to read!).

The new Iranian regime - even worse than the old one?
This would fit with many of Robert Pape’s arguments. Is Iran just buying time here?

The state of play in equity and private capital/direct lending.
Golden observations from Howard Marks, a master investor - wish he could read them aloud in a more engaging way!

Chart of the Day - Tick-tock as market cap heavies outperform

While the S&P 500 Index making all time new highs has justifiably grabbed headlines, especially on the neck-snapping reversal of momentum as the near-correction became an outright melt-up, it was the big market cap giants that have lead the way higher, with the median stock outperforming, a divergence that bears tracking in coming days for further development. Yesterday, for example, saw more losers than gainers on an overall solid 0.8% advance for the market. The chart below shows the S&P 500 Index versus the Equal Weight Index. The last two major divergence before this one were in early 2025 just before the meltdown into Trump’s Liberation Day tariff announcements - at that time with the standard index outperforming the equal-weight index, which was not posting new highs in February 2025. Then we saw a major episode of divergence just ahead of . This last episode may have been driven chiefly by AI-impact fears that struck larger market cap companies disproportionately (hyperscaling big cap-ex spenders plus the AI-disrupting-all-software theme). These latter have now come storming back relative to the median stock as represented by the equal-weight S&P 500, taking the standard index to an all-time high while the equal-weight index lags. Given how beaten down some major names still are, there could be room for further outperformance of the market-cap weighted index if benchmark chasers are forced to load up on passive instruments tracking the major index.

2026_04_16_SPXSPW
Source: Bloomberg

Questions and comments, please!

We invite you to send any questions and comments you might have for the podcast team. Whether feedback on the show's content, questions about specific topics, or requests for more focus on a given market area in an upcoming podcast, please get in touch at marketcall@saxobank.com.

This content is marketing material and should not be considered investment advice. Trading financial instruments carries risks and historic performance is not a guarantee for future performance.

The instrument(s) mentioned in this content may be issued by a partner, from which Saxo receives promotion, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo receives compensation from these partnerships, all content is conducted with the intention of providing clients with valuable options and information.

Outrageous Predictions 2026

01 /

  • Switzerland's Green Revolution: CHF 30 Billion Initiative by 2050

    Outrageous Predictions

    Switzerland's Green Revolution: CHF 30 Billion Initiative by 2050

    Katrin Wagner

    Head of Investment Content Switzerland

    Switzerland launches a CHF 30 billion energy revolution by 2050, rivaling Lindt & Sprüngli's market ...
  • The Swiss Fortress – 2026

    Outrageous Predictions

    The Swiss Fortress – 2026

    Erik Schafhauser

    Senior Relationship Manager

    Swiss voters reject EU ties, boosting the Swiss Franc and sparking Switzerland's "Souveränität Zuers...
  • A Fortune 500 company names an AI model as CEO

    Outrageous Predictions

    A Fortune 500 company names an AI model as CEO

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Can AI be trusted to take over in the boardroom? With the right algorithms and balanced human oversi...
  • Executive Summary: Outrageous Predictions 2026

    Outrageous Predictions

    Executive Summary: Outrageous Predictions 2026

    Saxo Group

    Read Saxo's Outrageous Predictions for 2026, our latest batch of low probability, but high impact ev...
  • Dollar dominance challenged by Beijing’s golden yuan

    Outrageous Predictions

    Dollar dominance challenged by Beijing’s golden yuan

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Beijing does an end-run around the US dollar, setting up a framework for settling trade in a neutral...
  • Dumb AI triggers trillion-dollar clean-up

    Outrageous Predictions

    Dumb AI triggers trillion-dollar clean-up

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

    Agentic AI systems are deployed across all sectors, and after a solid start, mistakes trigger a tril...
  • Quantum leap Q-Day arrives early, crashing crypto and destabilizing world finance

    Outrageous Predictions

    Quantum leap Q-Day arrives early, crashing crypto and destabilizing world finance

    Neil Wilson

    Investor Content Strategist

    A quantum computer cracks today’s digital security, bringing enough chaos with it that Bitcoin crash...
  • SpaceX announces an IPO, supercharging extraterrestrial markets

    Outrageous Predictions

    SpaceX announces an IPO, supercharging extraterrestrial markets

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    Financial markets go into orbit, to the moon and beyond as SpaceX expands rocket launches by orders-...
  • Taylor Swift-Kelce wedding spikes global growth

    Outrageous Predictions

    Taylor Swift-Kelce wedding spikes global growth

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    Next year’s most anticipated wedding inspires Gen Z to drop the doomscrolling and dial up the real w...
  • Despite concerns, U.S. 2026 mid-term elections proceed smoothly

    Outrageous Predictions

    Despite concerns, U.S. 2026 mid-term elections proceed smoothly

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    In spite of outstanding threats to the American democratic process, the US midterms come and go cord...

This content is marketing material.

None of the information provided on this website constitutes an offer, solicitation, or endorsement to buy or sell any financial instrument, nor is it financial, investment, or trading advice. Saxo Bank Switzerland and its entities within the Saxo Bank Group provide execution-only services, with all trades and investments based on self-directed decisions. Analysis, research, and educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice nor a recommendation.

Saxo Bank Switzerland’s content may reflect the personal views of the author, which are subject to change without notice. Mentions of specific financial products are for illustrative purposes only and may serve to clarify financial literacy topics. Content classified as investment research is marketing material and does not meet legal requirements for independent research.

Saxo Bank Switzerland partners with companies that provide compensation for promotional activities conduced on its platform. Additionally, Saxo Bank Switzerland has agreements with certain partners who provide retrocession contingent upon clients purchasing specific products offered by these partners.

While Saxo Bank Switzerland receives compensation from these partnerships, all educational and research content remains focused on providing information to clients.  

Before making any investment decisions, you should assess your own financial situation, needs, and objectives, and consider seeking independent professional advice. Saxo Bank Switzerland does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages resulting from the use of this information.

The content of this website represents marketing material and is not the result of financial analysis or research. It has therefore not been prepared in accordance with directives of the Swiss Bankers Association designed to promote the independence of financial research and is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of the marketing material.

Saxo Bank (Schweiz) AG
The Circle 38
CH-8058
Zürich-Flughafen
Switzerland

Contact Saxo

Switzerland
Switzerland

All trading carries risk. Losses can exceed deposits on margin products. You should consider whether you understand how our products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a general Risk Warning series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. The KIDs can be accessed within the trading platform. Please note that the full prospectus can be obtained free of charge from Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or the issuer.

This website can be accessed worldwide however the information on the website is related to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. All clients will directly engage with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and all client agreements will be entered into with Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. and thus governed by Swiss Law. 

The content of this website represents marketing material and has not been notified or submitted to any supervisory authority.

If you contact Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. or visit this website, you acknowledge and agree that any data that you transmit to Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., either through this website, by telephone or by any other means of communication (e.g. e-mail), may be collected or recorded and transferred to other Saxo Bank Group companies or third parties in Switzerland or abroad and may be stored or otherwise processed by them or Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. You release Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. from its obligations under Swiss banking and securities dealer secrecies and, to the extent permitted by law, data protection laws as well as other laws and obligations to protect privacy. Saxo Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. has implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect data from unauthorized processing and disclosure and applies appropriate safeguards to guarantee adequate protection of such data.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.