Breakneck Speed of Sell-Off Puts Longest Bull Market in Jeopardy

  • It’s rare that panic breaks out this close to stock market top
  • Unless selling subsides, this could be the fastest bear market
Photographer: John Taggart/Bloomberg
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In terms of sentiment shifts, few episodes compare with what’s happening in U.S. stocks now. And with each lurch, the longest-ever bull market comes closer to ending.

Investors who three weeks ago were doubling down on the rally’s longevity are being forced to unwind bets with a fury that is rarely ever seen. Engulfed in the quickest correction ever, American stocks are in serious danger of suffering the fastest bear-market plunge from an all-time high, unless the pace of selling slows.