We are in a Bear Market.
I use the S&P as a guide to the broad market. We are very clearly in a bear market by my definition, which is anything trading below its 200 day sma is, as far as i am concerned, in a bear market.
The S&P is below its 200 sma!
It is trading in a broad downward sloping channel defined by a line drawn through the 1576 high of 10/11/07 and the recent 1440 high of 5/19/08; and a line drawn through the 1367 low of 8/16/07 and the 1269 low of 1/23/08.
Not only are we in a bear market but we are in recession and that recession is still deepening.
We are also in a period of high inflation.
Commodities are in their own bull market. The recession will eventually have some minor moderating influence on inflation and commodity prices. Not until the Fed begins to tighten, and inflation cools significantly, however, will we see a significant pullback in commodity prices. The pullbacks we experience until then will be temporary and shallow.
This will be the deepest recession since the great depression for those in their seventies or older. For all others, this will be the most serious recession of their lifetimes.
Fiscal responsibility will slowly return to Washington with the new administration, and the economy will very slowly improve.