Market Cycles
Bull markets, bear markets, crashes, recessions, and volatility
22 articles in this category
What Is a Bull Market? Characteristics, History & How to Trade
A bull market is a sustained period of rising prices. Learn what triggers them, how long they last, and the best strategies to maximize your returns.
What Is a Bear Market? How to Survive & Profit
Bear markets are inevitable. Learn what defines one, how to protect your portfolio, and the strategies that help you survive and even profit from declines.
Bull vs Bear Market: Key Differences Every Trader Should Know
Bull and bear markets require different strategies. Learn the key differences, how to identify which one you are in, and how to adapt your trading.
Stock Market Crashes: History, Causes & Lessons for Traders
From 1929 to 2020, market crashes have shaped investing history. Learn what caused each crash, the warning signs, and timeless lessons for traders.
VIX Explained: How to Read the Market's Fear Gauge
The VIX measures expected market volatility and is known as the fear gauge. Learn how to read it, what different levels mean, and how to trade around it.
How to Trade Volatility: Strategies for High & Low Vol Markets
Volatility changes everything about how you should trade. Learn strategies for high-vol and low-vol environments using stocks, options, and indicators.
Trading During a Recession: Strategies That Work in Downturns
Recessions create both danger and opportunity. Learn which sectors hold up, how to play defense, and how to position for the eventual recovery.
Market Corrections: What They Are & How to React
A market correction is a 10% or more decline from recent highs. Learn how often they happen, how long they last, and how to react without panicking.
Sector Rotation: How Money Flows Through the Business Cycle
Different sectors lead at different points in the business cycle. Learn how to identify sector rotation and position your portfolio ahead of the trend.
Market Bubbles: How to Spot One Before It Pops
From tulip mania to the dot-com bubble, history repeats. Learn the telltale signs of a market bubble and how to protect yourself before it pops.
Yield Curve Explained: Normal, Inverted & What It Predicts
An inverted yield curve has predicted every US recession since 1955. Here's how to read the curve and what it means.
How Interest Rates Affect the Stock Market
Rising rates make bonds more attractive and borrowing more expensive, putting pressure on stocks. But timing matters.
What Causes Inflation & How It Affects Your Portfolio
Inflation eats your returns silently. Some sectors thrive during inflation while others suffer. Here's how to position.
Black Swan Events: Unpredictable Crashes & How to Protect Your Portfolio
Black swans are rare, unpredictable events with massive market impact. You can't predict them — but you can prepare.
Market Breadth Indicators: Is the Whole Market Moving or Just a Few Stocks?
If the index is up but most stocks are down, the rally is narrow. Market breadth tells you if the move is real.
Market Cycles: The 4 Stages Every Trader Must Recognize
Markets cycle through accumulation, markup, distribution, and markdown. Learn to identify each stage and trade accordingly.
Quantitative Easing: How Money Printing Moves Stock Prices
Quantitative easing floods the economy with money by buying bonds. Learn how QE works and why it pushes stock prices higher.
Flash Crashes: What Causes Them & How to Protect Your Positions
Flash crashes wipe out prices in minutes and recover just as fast. Learn the causes and how to protect your positions.
Stagflation: When Inflation Rises & Growth Stalls
Stagflation is the rare combination of rising prices and stalling growth. Learn what causes it and how to protect your portfolio.
Risk-On vs Risk-Off: How Market Sentiment Drives Asset Flows
Risk-on drives money into stocks. Risk-off drives it into treasuries and gold. Learn to read which mode the market is in.
What Is Market Breadth?
Market breadth evaluates overall market health by analyzing how many stocks participate in a move — not just where the index is headed.
What Is the VIX?
The VIX, the CBOE Volatility Index, measures expected 30-day market volatility from S&P 500 option prices and is often called the "fear gauge."