, Columnist
The Signs of a Market Blip or Something Worse
The bulls probably still rule, but volatility is back and so are ups and downs.
He's fallen, but he'll get up soon.
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The market sell-off that started last week has made investors nervous. A quick skim of the headlines reflects fears that the bull market is over and that this is more than a mere blip. Futures suggest there will be more red on screens today.
It is too early to definitely declare this the start of a correction (a 10 percent decline that quickly reverses) or the end of the bull market. But rather than rely on gut instinct, we should instead look at the data to help us understand the details of this rally. It is as a good time as any to discuss how market tops and bottoms are made, and why they tend to be such different events.