The following is a portion of a newsletter from DIREXION funds.
Not my own work.
I found the facts to be very interesting
in regards to BEAR MARKETS.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
"News You Can Use"
NOT UP FOREVER - The average return of the S&P 500 in the last 50 years (i.e., 1958-2007) is +11.0% per year (total return). The highest average annual return of the stock index on a trailing 5-year basis at the end of any month in the last half-century occurred as of 12/31/99 (up +28.6% for the 5 years of 1995-99), less than 3 months before the stock market peaked on 3/24/00. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the US stock market (source: BTN Research).
STOCK PRICES FOLLOW EARNINGS - The S&P 500 hit a high point on 3/24/00 before falling 49% during the 2000-02 bear market. The year-over-year change in quarterly earnings of the S&P 500 companies as of 3/31/00 (i.e., at the peak of the stock market) was an increase of +25%. One year later (i.e., 1 year into the bear market or 3/31/01), the year-over-year change in quarterly earnings was a drop of 33% (source: S&P).
THE SAME - In the last 25 calendar years (1983-2007), the S&P 500 has gained +12.7% per year on a total return basis vs. a +12.4% average annual total return for the international stock index EAFE over the same period. The EAFE index is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of the international stock market. These international securities involve additional risks including currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards and possible political and economic volatility (source: BTN Research).
UP, DOWN AND BACK AGAIN - In the 9 bear markets since 1957 (defined as a S&P 500 tumble of at least 20%), each of which have eventually recovered and closed above the previous bull market high, the average length of time of the decline (i.e., from peak to bottom) was 12 months and the average length of time to bounce-back and close at a new record high (i.e., from bottom to a new peak) is 23 months (source: BTN Research).
Jeff @ EOD Traders
www.eodtraders.com