Every day I hear someone on CNBC proclaim that "this is the bottom" and you should get in there and buy all those "bargains". "The valuations of the DOW stocks are a steal."
The low of DOW 8,000 immediately after September 11 was "the low" and the market did rally to about 10,700. That's 2,700 points. A smart trader could have made a fortune in six months. Oops! Then there was a Brody to DOW 7500. That's more than 3,000 points. That, for sure, is "the bottom". I heard them say so on TV and radio. It can't go any lower. Can it?
There has been a 1,500 point rally, but there now seems to be another one of those 'Oops' taking place. What is going on anyway?
The great majority of the media are too young to remember the last bear market of 1973-74 when the S&P lost 43% and the Value Line index was down 75%. In the last 2 years this bear has seen the S&P500 index lose 50% and there does not seem to be any so-called bottom in sight. Yet investors are encouraged to buy "for the long haul". Even the staunchest Buy and Holders are finding out that they need to have loss limit orders in - a long time ago. There is such a thing as market timing.
What has been happening is the market is making a correction of the excesses of the 18-year bull market from 1982 to 2000. If it took 18 years to reach the top then how long will it take to get to the bottom? I wish I knew. The predictions run from today to 15 years hence. Japan's bear just celebrated (?) it's 19-year low. From 1920 to 1980 there were 3 bull markets that lasted about 16 years and each was followed by bear markets that hung on for about an equal length of time.
As a technical analyst I have not seen anything that makes me believe we are near "the bottom".
And when that happens will the market take off on another bull run? Not very likely as the little guy will be broke and so shook up from his losses he will vow to "never play the market again". That very thing has taken place at the bottom of every major bear market. In 1932 it was more than a generation before investor confidence returned. Am I implying this could be another 1929-32? Anything is possible with the stock market. No broker will ever tell you that cash is a position. Cash at zero percent interest is better than losing 20% each year.
They might be having a big garage sale on Wall Street today, but I prefer to keep my money in my pocket - or maybe under the mattress.
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.
Copyright 2005
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareFor years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
Last time we looked at the real performance of the... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics is that a... Read More
A few years back ? it seems like an eternity... Read More
Are hedge funds a suitable investment for you? Hedge funds... Read More
I am sure that if you have a brokerage account... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
Congress recently passed another new law that is supposed to... Read More
There is a famous cliff on the ocean in Acapulco... Read More
Using Swing Trading Strategies and Technical Analysis when Trading Stocks... Read More
The stock market is very unstable at this time going... Read More
How do you make money without picking tops and bottoms?I... Read More
A PEG ratio cannot be used alone but is a... Read More
Ever notice how behavior in one area of life can... Read More
Most stock market traders have a favorite technical indicator.The one... Read More
I have a 2-car garage. There are nice shelves on... Read More
I often play a little game with myself when I... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
Mutual funds and brokers are always preaching not to buy... Read More
Is really not as important as to how you invest... Read More
Now where have I heard that before? I know. It... Read More
Let me start by saying that...Most online brokers do not... Read More
I mean it when I say that. While plastic silverware... Read More
"Buy and hold" is one of the most heralded investment... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..The Law of Chaos is the theory of random unpredictable... Read More
Regardless of the fact that the world's stock markets have... Read More
The stock market is very unstable at this time going... Read More
The ABC's of Stock Trading SuccessStock trading success...why is it... Read More
Never lose money in the stock market again. Yeah, I... Read More
The spring-loaded rat catcher is the ultimate low-tech device invented... Read More
Using Swing Trading Strategies and Technical Analysis when Trading Stocks... Read More
When an individual investor wants to roll up his sleeves... Read More
The basis of diminishing return discussions surround such simple notions;... Read More
For years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
Is really not as important as to how you invest... Read More
It has been said that low cost or even free... Read More
I receive emails from Morningstar. This company provides statistics and... Read More
It takes a total mental commitment to the task. It... Read More
Let's go into the details of why non-indexed mutual funds... Read More
Stock investment advice is easy to find. Do you get... Read More
The stock market has been going up for more than... Read More
I constantly hear the talking heads on CNBC-TV, the radio... Read More
Every day on CNBC-TV they show a 200-day moving average... Read More
Very few people, even professionals, have heard of the Dalbar... Read More
To begin, you might look at playing the stock market... Read More
The greatest stock market myth is the idea that investing... Read More
Did you know you can make money (and a lot... Read More
You should ignore analysts on TV, the radio, the newspaper... Read More
You probably have been told that options are risky. Even... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |