Market breadth: what lies beneath the index

Stock market indices often dominate financial headlines, but do they really tell the full story? In this episode, we explore market breadth — one of the most useful tools for understanding what's happening beneath the surface of a market rally or selloff. We'll look at why major indices can sometimes paint a misleading picture, how concentration in a handful of large stocks can distort performance, and what investors can do to assess the true health of a market. From equal-weight indices and advance-decline data to moving averages and sector participation, we'll break down the key breadth indicators used by traders. Listen to find out more Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020, and launched her own website ipekScope.com in 2025.