VIX, VXO and VXN vs SOX on Weekly Charts Back to 1994
3 Year Daily Charts vs the BPNDX and BPCOMPQ:
Interestingly enough the all time record low for the semi equipment btb was established in April 2001. The actual low for the SOX in this cycle as you can see was in October 2002. By then the VXO had spiked over 50 for a third time in less than 13 months. And the BPNDX had hit 5 lows of less than 20 during that time period while establishing a positive divergence. Each of the major three BPNDX lows was higher even as the SOX set lower lows.
The btb alone probably has little predictive value concerning what direction the SOX will trade. It is most important to watch volume using the SMH and components for clues because which direction the SOX is going to trade is determined by institutional traders.
Volatility Indices versus the BKX on Weekly Charts back to 1994:
VIX, VXO, VXN vs COMPQ on Weekly Charts back to 1994: