Quote from zboy2854A:
I'd be very careful re: expectations, at least medium to long term. Short term anything's possible for a day or two. For your consideration:
I've been studying the chart of the Dow during the period of 1929-1933 and seeing how what we've been going through this year has mirrored that. Thus far, the parallels are impressive.
In mid 1929 the Dow peaked at 381.17, then crashed in late 1929 to a low of 198.69, a 48% decline from the peak that year.
In mid 2008 the Dow peaked at 13191.49, then crashed in late 2008 to a low of 7392.27, a 44% decline from the peak this year.
From the end of 1929 to mid 1930, the Dow proceeded to have a monster bear market rally back to 294.07, a 50% gain from the 1929 low. It then resumed its decline, closing out the year at approximately 160, breaking below the previous year's low and a 58% decline from the 1929 peak. From there over the next 2 years it continued falling, finally bottoming at 41.22 in 1932, an 89% decline from its 1929 peak.
If the parallels continue, a 50% gain from the 2008 low would take the Dow back to 11300 or so by summer 2009 before resuming its downturn. It would then move back down to the 5500 area (assuming a similar 58% decline from the 2008 peak) by the end of 2009 and continue declining.
And if the parallel is truly valid, that would put the Dow at the 1430 area sometime around 2011 (an 89% decline from 2008 peak).
Will these parallels continue, and the bear market rally rages on for another few months and few thousand points? Who knows. But just remember the old adage, the market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. Bottom line, don't trade what you think will happen, trade what does happen.