Why are we suggesting that things might be on the turn? Charts, of course - but I'm sure our readers will be able to point to a host of other issues that might be worrying them. Escalating turmoil in north Africa and the Middle East for starters, fragmentation of European Union attitudes reflected in voter intentions, social inequality and a record number of refugees and forcibly displaced persons (UNHCR says 59.5m). We look at four disparate, lesser-known indices to see what they are saying.
For emerging markets we start with Brazil's Ibovespa, at a time when the country is struggling with its worst recession in 25 years. From a record high in 2008, we are currently halfway between here and 2008's trough, when the index lost 67 per cent of face value in just five months. Not for the faint-hearted and goes to show why they are sometimes known as 'go-go' stocks. Currently sort of in the middle of that range, a break of support at 45000 targets 30000 - again!