Staring At The Sunset

2026-03-13 / Sam Shames

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Markets are sending some of the strongest bearish signals we’ve seen in a long time, and in this weekend review for the week ending March 13, 2026, we break down exactly what traders need to know. We walk through the major indexes, credit markets, and volatility indicators to understand why everything is lining up on the downside right now. From weekly squeeze signals on the indexes to weakness in HYG and a potentially explosive setup in the VIX, the data suggests traders should be prepared for increased volatility ahead. We’ll also cover a few targeted opportunities that still look strong in the energy sector, plus the QQQ put debit spread trade setup I’m watching if the bearish scenario continues to play out.

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Sam Shames

Sam began trading futures and equities in 2006 as markets were reaching a crescendo. Learning how to find opportunities in any market condition was the most important lesson from this time. He primarily looks to market correlations and follows a strategy where he looks to take advantage of both daily and intraday trends. The strategy is top-down first, starting with the market moving indices and futures to heavily weighted stocks to make sure that they are pulling in the same direction. Once that is established we review whether timeframes line up, meaning are the lower time frames in sync with the longer time frame trend. Tide first, then boats. Sam is primarily a swing trader and does not have a preference on length of time to hold a trade. As long as the trend and market correlations signal continues to be valid, he will hold the trade. He will also cut the trade if any of the underlying conditions change, take profits, and look for a re-entry when the clarity of the trade setup returns. As an aggressive swing trader, Sam works to understand the markets through technical analysis and recognizing the distinct psychology and correlations of each chart.