bull market

Stocks Started Off the Year Strong -- Maybe Too Strong

Markets surged as soon as the calendar turned to 2013 and kept rising for much of the month, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average to near-record levels. February started off equally strong. But some watchers worry that the market may have gotten ahead of itself.

What Does January's Stock Market Rally Mean for 2013?

U.S. stocks are flirting with all-time highs, climbing to heights not seen since before the financial crisis. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 have risen to their highest levels since October 2007. But stock prices cannot go up forever, and some analysts warn that the bull market is nearing an end, just as investors are returning.

If You Haven't Done This Lately, Your Portfolio Is In Danger

2012 was a good year for the stock markets. But if you want to be prepared for the next correction, whenever it comes, there's one easy-to-implement strategy that has helped investors through the bumps and dips more than any other: rebalancing your portfolio.

Did You Miss Out On Your Share of $200 Billion?

You'll never have the chance to lose $200 billion, but the odds are good that, over the past several years, you lost your personal share of $200 billion in potential investment gains. But here's the good part: The kinds of mistakes that cost us that cash are entirely avoidable. Here's how.

Romney or Obama: Whose Win Would Ignite an Economic Boom?

According to our exclusive (but unscientific) poll two-thirds of respondents felt one candidate would be better for the country economically. But does history back up their opinions about which party's presidents bring growth and which bring stagnation? You may be surprised.

And the Number One Threat to the Market Is...

With the market in exuberant, can't lose bull-mode, we asked a group of our favorite investors, strategists, and economists a simple question: What's the #1 threat to the market right now? Here are the answers we got.

Painless Investing: Why a New Generation Will Dive Into Stocks

Many Americans have been spooked out of the stock market by Great Recession and its aftermath. But despite their apprehensions, the children of the baby boomers are actually eager to jump into stocks -- primarily because they weren't burned personally by the crash.

Why Investors Aren't Buying Wall Street's Upbeat Profit Reports

As earnings reports for the first quarter roll in, U.S. companies are beating the estimates of analysts at a rate not seen in more than a decade. Yet stocks have languished. The S&P 500 has fallen about 2% in April. So why aren't investors impressed?

Retail Stocks Are a Bad Buy: Why the Rally Won't Last

The stock market's recent bounce has a lot of folks looking for a piece of the action. And with retail stocks shooting up faster than average, but still cheaper than a year ago, some analysts say now's the time to buy them. They're wrong. Here's why:

Stocks in 2012: Up, Up, But Not Away

The stock market's stomach-churning roller coaster will keep running, but unlike last year's flat finish, Wall Street experts anticipate stocks will end 2012 on a high note, with the S&P 500 up by 7%.

Terror for Adults: Check Out These 5 Scary Numbers

Boo! It's the season of ghosts and goblins, when we like to scare ourselves and each other. But while Halloween frights are generally lighthearted and short-lived, there are some truly scary facts out there regarding our finances -- ones we'd do well to know about and beware of.

Cheap Stocks for Your Portfolio in a Pricey Market

The stock market has been on a tear over the past two years. With the major indexes hitting multi-year highs recently, the value pickings are slim. But one highlights five stocks that still have attractive prices in this rising market.

The Bulls Are Optimistic Despite Global Turmoil

Despite turbulent times, U.S. markets are rising again. But is this a temporary bump, or the return of a bull market? The sharp-eyed analysts of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs say its the latter, and their money is on strong growth ahead.

Two Years After the Bottom: What's Ahead for Stocks?

Two years after the markets hit bottom on March 9, 2009, stock prices have rebounded significantly. But will the bull market keep rolling, or is a bear around the corner? Truth is, there's just as much uncertainty now as there was then.

It's Not Too Late to Buy Into the Bullish Stock Market

The S&P 500 has nearly doubled from its post-crash lows, and small investors are finally getting off the sidelines again. Normally, that would be a danger sign for a correction, but right now, all signs point to the upward stock market trend continuing in 2011. Here's why:

Libya Isn't the Only Force Working Against Stocks

With Mideast turmoil chasing oil higher and stocks lower, it's a good time to check the charts and see what price levels seem to be key "lines in the sand." Some indicators have been warning for months that the steep rally was preparing to reverse.

How High (or Low) Could the Stock Market Go?

U.S. equities have piled on way-above-average returns in the last five months. But what can investors expect over the next few years? The charts show some patterns, and they hint that returns could revert to a longer-term, lower average -- but what might that be?

As Companies Beat Estimates in 2011, Expect Stocks to Soar

Last year, stocks rose as cost-cutting helped businesses set record profits. But its not too late to buy in, says venture capitalist Peter Cohan: With the corporate world's focus shifting to sales growth, and profits likely to beat expectations, stocks still look undervalued.

What Investors Should Expect After Davos 2011

Reports from the ultra-elite Swiss meeting show that CEOs are far more optimistic than they've been for years. Considering their cash hoards, an M&A wave is likely. But they're unmoved by the idea that they should create societal value.

Striking a Balance Between Stocks' Profits and Bonds' Safety

With stock markets rallying lately, cautious investors are looking to get some profits from equities while keeping conservative portfolios. Mark Caner, president of W&S Financial Group Distributors, discusses a new variable annuity product that aims to do exactly that.

Lower Volatility Might Not Signal a Market Correction

The CBOE's Volatility Index, known as the VIX, has been trending lower, which many analysts consider a sign that stocks are due for a fall. But another argument says it's all relative, and in today's environment a lower VIX may suggest a continuing rally.

Rising Bullishness: A Sign to Sell or Justified Optimism?

A supposed truism on Wall Street is that betting against the crowd is always a wise move. And these days, the crowd is decidedly bullish. Yes, that's often a sign that the end is near. But right now, a good argument can be made that things will still get better.

Why Gold Rose 420% in Eight Years: Blame It on the ETF

Gold is on a record bull run, up from $328 in 2002 to $1,375 an ounce today. What caused that steep rise wasn't any inherent increase in gold's value to society, but a clever marketing scheme that allowed it to be traded easily without the hassle of physical delivery: The SPDR Gold ETF.