The Bottom?

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

premium house cleaning Glenview ...
In The News:

MacSync malware hides malicious commands inside iCloud calendar events to download additional payloads onto infected Macs without raising suspicion.
Joseph Holycross dismissed his racing heart for nearly two years until his Samsung Galaxy Watch detected atrial fibrillation and changed everything.
Home title fraud begins when criminals forge your signature on a deed. Here is how to check your own property records and set up free alerts.
Jeffrey Ladish, a former Anthropic security team member, warns AI agents are colluding and hacking with no reliable solution to keep them in check.
Instinct Concierge and Meta Muse can now place phone calls to businesses on your behalf, but the privacy and data access tradeoffs are significant.
Olivia Moore spent $100 to create a fake RushTok influencer using ChatGPT and MiniMax, and thousands of Bama Rush fans couldn't tell the difference.
RatHat Android malware uses AI to steal banking credentials, intercept two-factor authentication codes and reconstruct your PIN from touch inputs.
The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Apple and Google password managers can flag compromised, weak and reused passwords on your phone before credential stuffing attacks can strike.
Researcher Peter Garrigan says Moonshot AI's Kimi model was manipulated into providing instructions for biological weapons and assassination plans.
iPhone, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones now offer call screening that asks unknown callers to identify themselves before your phone rings.
Ransomware can lock your irreplaceable photos and documents in seconds. A tested backup strategy and stronger cybersecurity habits are your best defense.
ShinyHunters claims it breached FBIJobs.gov and stole Social Security numbers, home addresses and sensitive assignment details of FBI personnel.
Find My iPhone, Google Find Hub and Samsung Find have critical tracking settings to enable now, before your phone ever goes missing or stolen.
The FTC proposed a new enforcement policy on personalized pricing, warning companies that hide how personal data shapes the prices shoppers see.
The $250 million Apple Siri AI settlement is now accepting claims, with eligible iPhone owners potentially receiving up to $95 per device.
ShareAScan turns T-shirts into scannable digital business cards with QR codes that link to profiles the owner can update anytime they choose.
BragJack research reveals how a single malicious browser extension could hijack Gemini, Perplexity Comet and Edge AI agents with zero clicks.
A phishing campaign impersonating OpenAI uses fake ChatGPT billing emails with a convincing login page to steal credentials and payment details.
Startups are helping modernize America’s defense industry with new technology and innovative ideas as the War Department diversifies its inventory.
New account fraud victims jumped 31% in 2025, reaching 5.4 million. Criminals open accounts you may never see on your regular bank statements.
Flytrex says its AI-powered Rooftop Dock system in Dallas-Fort Worth positions drones at restaurants before orders arrive, cutting delivery costs by 60%.
Samson Sky's Switchblade flying car secures $80 million from Dubai's Matin Group, but the redesigned hybrid-electric aircraft still needs more testing.
The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
CenterPoint Energy confirmed customer data was stolen, while a hacker claims 7.49 million records with partial Social Security numbers were taken.

Cash Is A Position

I go to the Money Show every year to visit... Read More

How to Read an Annual Report

Every publicly traded company is required by the SEC(Securities and... Read More

One Way Street

Ever turn down a street, get half way and suddenly... Read More

You Don?t HAVE To Be Trading

As a novice trader, you'll often feel the need to... Read More

Top 25 Growth Funds

On Monday, November 25, 2000 Investor's Business Daily listed on... Read More

Successful Trading ? Taking Profits - Part 1

So you're started trading, you bought some positions with your... Read More

Inertia Syndrome

When it comes to buying a stock or mutual fund... Read More

Duck

Duck! No I don't mean a quack, quack. I meant... Read More

Its A Duck

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Read More

Emotional Maturity

If you are going to be a winner in the... Read More

Financial Crime

Congress recently passed another new law that is supposed to... Read More

Kick The Tires

Before you buy another car you walk around the lot,... Read More

It Cant Be Done

Wouldn't it be nice if you were only in the... Read More

China Syndrome

There has been great condemnation recently because China has been... Read More

Stock Analysis

I receive emails from Morningstar. This company provides statistics and... Read More

How To Pick A Mutual Fund

Mutual funds by definition are a mixed bag of stocks,... Read More

Who Knows?

The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More

How Commodity Trading Differs from Stock Trading

There are major differences between trading stocks and trading futures.... Read More

Stuff

I continually hear from economists, talking heads, other market letter... Read More

Is Your Garage Full Of Junk?

I have a 2-car garage. There are nice shelves on... Read More

Bollinger Bands Strategies

The Bollinger Band theory is designed to depict the volatility... Read More

A Stock Market Investment Plan that Never Lets You Down

The bulls and bears of the stock market are both... Read More

What Can Model Airplanes Teach You About Trading?

I was devastated!I just couldn't believe it. I was 10... Read More

Making Outsized Returns in the Stock Market - Using the Dow Theory

The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More

Planning Your Dive and Diving Your Plan ? Trading!

A colleague of mine just returned from a scuba diving... Read More

insured cleaning company Deerfield ...