Cross-asset conditions, 5 August 2026

The dated record: each asset class ranked by how much it mattered, with what actually moved. Written by the lens engine on the day; preserved as published.

cross-asset activity 0.69× the norm

#1Equities

Equities moved more than anything else. Momentum factor swung from -14.4% to -3.6% on the month, its biggest move since July 7. RSP vs S&P, 200-day went from 0.03 to -0.00. Sector rotation velocity went from 7.53 to 1.89. Forward EPS went from 288 to 304. Five of its nine groups moved at once. A third straight session at the top.

  • Factor returnsMomentum factor swung from -14.4% to -3.6% on the month, its biggest move since July 7. Low-vol factor moved from +3.9% to -1.5%.
  • Market breadthRSP vs S&P, 200-day went from 0.03 to -0.00, 5.0 times its normal pace. Equal-weight vs cap-weight S&P went from 0.30 to 0.29.
  • Sector rotationSector rotation velocity went from 7.53 to 1.89, its biggest move since March 2025. Sector dispersion went from 0.04 to 0.02.
  • Forward earningsForward EPS went from 288 to 304, its biggest move since March 2. Forward EPS revisions went from 0.02 to 0.06.
  • ValuationsShiller CAPE held at 42.28 at the latest reading. Equity risk premium moved from +11.8% to +128.7%.
  • Equity volatilityImplied minus realized vol went from 10.25 to 1.95, its biggest move since April 14. VIX moved from +245.0% to -69.0%.
  • Index performanceS&P 500 1-month return swung from -1.7% to +2.9% on the month, its biggest move since July 13. S&P daily return moved from -1.5% to -0.2%.
  • Positioning & sentimentNo fresh reading in this group.
  • Financial conditions & risk appetiteNo fresh reading in this group. Rate realized vol moved from +55.6% to +67.4%.

#2Volatility

A busy day in volatility. The oil vol premium moved from +7.2% to -15.0%, its biggest move since May 19. The GVZ/VIX ratio went from 1.19 to 1.62.

  • Vol risk premiumThe oil vol premium moved from +7.2% to -15.0%, its biggest move since May 19. S&P realized vol moved from +10.4% to +13.9%.
  • Stress concentrationThe GVZ/VIX ratio went from 1.19 to 1.62, its biggest move since March 11. Vol complex co-movement went from +0.43 to +0.41.
  • Implied vol complexThe vol complex gauge went from 86.11 to 57.51, its biggest move since October 2025. VIX moved from +245.0% to -69.0%.
  • Stress gauges & regimeNo fresh reading in this group. The financial-conditions composite went from -0.64 to -0.53.

#3FX

A busy day in FX. Dollar-yen realized vol moved from +4.2% to +9.1%, 16.9 times its normal pace. NZD/USD extended to +3.3% on the month (from +2.3%).

  • FX volatilityDollar-yen realized vol moved from +4.2% to +9.1%, 16.9 times its normal pace. Aussie-dollar realized vol moved from +5.3% to +6.9%.
  • CarryNZD/USD extended to +3.3% on the month (from +2.3%).
  • Major pairsUSD/JPY swung from +1.2% to -2.7% on the month, its biggest move since March 19. USD/CAD moved from -0.7% to -1.4%.
  • Emerging marketsDollar-lira realized vol moved from +0.9% to +1.1%, 3.2 times its normal pace. Dollar-rand realized vol moved from +11.9% to +12.9%.
  • DollarThe dollar moved from -0.6% to -0.2%. The broad dollar index went from 121 to 120.
  • Futures positioningNo fresh reading in this group.

#4Commodities

Only one thing moved in commodities. Gold realized vol moved from +20.3% to +27.5%, its biggest move since June 16.

  • MetalsGold realized vol moved from +20.3% to +27.5%, its biggest move since June 16. Gold moved from $4,035 to $4,307.
  • Commodity volatilityOil vol moved from 68 to 51, its biggest move since July 17.
  • EnergyCrude moved from $84.5 to $75.0, 3.6 times its normal pace.
  • Roll yield & carryOil futures roll drag went from +1.4pt to -1.0pt, 3.5 times its normal pace. Copper futures roll drag sits at +0.1pt.
  • Broad commoditiesThe broad commodity ETF moved from $29.4 to $28.5. The broad commodity ETF realized vol moved from +23.9% to +25.7%.
  • AgricultureWheat eased to +5.7% on the month (from +16.0%).
  • ETF flowsCrude (USO) swung from +20.8% to +5.5% on the month.
  • Futures positioningNo fresh reading in this group.

#5Credit

Little happened in credit.

  • Default cycle & lendingCorporate charge-off rate held at 0.59% at the latest reading.
  • Spread complexLQD ETF flows went from 0.03 to 0.78. AAA credit moved from 0.46% to 0.39%.
  • Total returnsNo fresh reading in this group.

#6Crypto

Crypto was quiet. Nothing moved beyond its normal range. The nearest mover was the Ethereum ETF realized vol, from +46.2% to +39.8%.

  • Crypto volatilityThe Ethereum ETF realized vol moved from +46.2% to +39.8%. Ethereum realized vol moved from +39.8% to +35.9%.
  • Cross-asset linkageBitcoin-gold co-movement went from +0.45 to +0.50. Bitcoin beta to the S&P went from +1.14 to +1.08.
  • Market structureThe ETH/BTC ratio (1-month change) eased to +5.7% on the month (from +11.4%). Stablecoin supply went from 307 to 306.
  • PerformanceEthereum eased to +8.4% on the month (from +21.6%). The Ethereum ETF moved from +16.3% to +7.2%.
  • Network activityNo fresh reading in this group. Bitcoin active-address growth moved from -2.7% to +31.5%.
  • Futures positioningNo fresh reading in this group.

#7Macro

No news in macro.

  • Fiscal positionDebt-to-GDP held at 123% at the latest reading. That is its highest level in about six months.
  • InflationHeadline CPI held at 333 at the latest reading.
  • HousingHousing starts held at 1.4m at the latest reading.
  • Household credit & cash flowDebt service ratio held at 11.16 at the latest reading. That is its lowest level in about six months.
  • Liquidity & financial conditionsThe dollar moved from -0.6% to -0.2%.
  • GrowthReal GDP held at $24.27tn at the latest reading. That is its highest level in about six months.
  • Labor marketPayrolls held at 159.0m at the latest reading. That is its highest level in about six months.

#8Rates

A calm day in rates. Every group stayed inside its usual pace. The nearest mover was the 1-3y Treasury ETF realized vol, from +1.7% to +1.5%.

  • Term premium & durationThe 1-3y Treasury ETF realized vol moved from +1.7% to +1.5%. Long-Treasury ETF realized vol moved from +9.2% to +8.3%.
  • Fiscal & stock-bond contextNet interest to GDP held at 3.15% at the latest reading. That is its highest level in about six months.
  • Flows & positioningETF flows went from -1.11 to -0.84. TLT ETF flows went from -1.54 to -0.27.
  • Yield curveNo fresh reading in this group. 30-year Treasury yield moved from +22.0% to +19.0%.
  • Curve slopeNo fresh reading in this group. The 10s-3mo curve moved from 0.71% to 0.74%.
  • Real yieldsNo fresh reading in this group. 10-year real yield sits at -3.0%.
  • Inflation expectationsNo fresh reading in this group. 10-year breakevens moved from -1.0% to -4.0%.
  • Rates volatilityNo fresh reading in this group. Rate realized vol moved from +55.6% to +67.4%.
  • Policy pathNo fresh reading in this group. Priced odds of a hike next meeting went from 83.05 to 76.43.

Descriptive research, not investment advice · the live lens · all days