The Big Bad Bear

The big bad bear is stirring again. So far he has stretched, yawned and peaked out of his cave. After his almost year-long nap he is hungry. A nice big steak would hit the spot.

That steak comes from cattle and not too far from his den there is a fat complacent bull munching in the pasture. He has his tail towards the bear and Mr. Bear remembers that 3 years ago he walked up to another bull and bit him in the backside. It looks like he can do it again.

We know who bull and bear really are. It seems that almost everyone is bullish and thinks we are in another bull market like the one in 1999 where all investors thought they were geniuses. History has taught (for those who wish to listen and learn) that major bull markets are followed by bear markets of equal length. The major bull came to an end after 18 years in 2000. Can we expect an 18-year bear market? If history repeats its cycle the answer is yes.

The recent return of the upward movement of stock prices from last year is very typical of rallies in bear markets. Many have a 50% retracement of the first down leg (as happened after the big break in 1929) that tops out with the resumption of the downward path.

Today our bull is feeding on the lowest interest rates in 40 years, a tax cut that puts extra money in the hands of consumers (where it belongs) and a strong housing market plus the belief that the market always does well in an election year. Let's hope all these things will come to pass.

The worst problem for investors is their complacency. They start making money and forget to protect their profits. These slip away when the market starts down and their broker says, "Don't worry. The market always comes back". If the investor did not learn to protect his assets from the 2000 debacle he is doomed to lose again. What should he do?

He should protect his investment account with stop-loss orders on all stocks and mental stops for all mutual funds. Brokers hate this and will try to talk their clients out of doing it. Why? Because he makes a commission as long as you are invested and nothing if you have cash in your money market.

It is better to make 1% in a money market than lose 20% or more of the principle as the market heads south. You don't have to be a market "expert" to place a stop. Decide how much risk you are will to take 5%, 10%, 15%? And place your stop accordingly.

When this bear comes out of his cave don't let him bite you ? you know where.

Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

Cadillac Escalade rentals Round Lake ..

In The News:

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson compares the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2. "For me, audio quality is the most essential factor in buying new headphones or earbuds," Kurt says.

A flying shopping cart could revolutionize the way we shop and transport things. The Palletrone is a hovering platform that users push around at chest height.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explores how you can help troubleshoot a computer issue remotely on Windows or a Mac. There are a variety of options.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Checking your blood pressure has become simple with the Apple Watch, and doing this can help you identify trends and manage medications.

There are a handful of ways you can make your tech experience less annoying, including through fixing autocorrect, turning off certain notifications and by creating folders on your iPhone.

A robot that stands more than 5 feet tall and weighs 66 pounds is well-equipped for household tasks, like carrying up to 44 pounds during its run time of two to four hours.

Criminals are increasingly turning to data brokers to provide access to private information that can be used to improve their scamming schemes.

The new Reader Mode in iOS 18’s Magnifier app is here to help iPhone users read something small or in poor lighting. All you have to do is snap a picture.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

CISA warns of scammers impersonating its officials. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson urges people to be alert and verify contacts.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how iOS 18’s satellite messaging helps isolated residents seek help in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to protect yourself with eight steps if your iPhone is lost or stolen.

Surgeons performed endoscopy on a pig 5,780 miles away using a video game controller. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson has the details on this groundbreaking experiment.

Using public computers poses security risks, tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says, so take precautions or use your own secure device.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses San Francisco deploying three advanced mobile surveillance cameras to deter crime in high-risk areas.

Lionsgate's revolutionary move to partner with tech company Runway to integrate AI into its production process is going to take the film industry by storm.

There have been cases when widely downloaded apps from the Play Store are infected with malware. Kurt the CyberGuy tackles the issue of a new Trojan malware.

A whopping 30 million people will have taken cruises in 2024, and some ships being built to keep up with this demand cost as much as $2 billion.

While you may feel pretty sharp at spotting online fraud, there's a sneaky new scam involving QR codes and parking meters across the country affecting even the most cautious people.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Loch Electronics' latest innovation, the Capsule Solo, is a compact kitchen countertop dishwasher that can clean up to 35 dishes in just 15 minutes.

As your teenagers navigate social media, here are some ways you can protect them including through adjusting settings, enforcing limits and communicating honestly about the dangers that exist online.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense shared a video of a robotic war dog being used in the field with a soldier, who was able to take advantage of the device's thermal imaging.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The Big Bad Bear

Stocks & Mutual Fund