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Saturday, April 30, 2022

What is a correction? . . . a bear market?

A friend, new to investing, asked me to explain a correction. I don't have to do it as Derek Fuchs, writing for Scotia Wealth Management, has beaten me to it: What is a Correction?. The important points that I took from Fuchs piece:

  • A stock market correction is defined as a 10% decline from the peak.
  •  A stock market correction historically occurs every one to two years.
  • Most stock market corrections are here only for a short time. Some have lasted only a few weeks. The average correction lasts around two months.
  • While the 10% decline is considered a correction, most have an average decline of around 13%.

What is a bear market?

  • A bear market is different than a market correction. A bear market is one where the market has declined 20% since the previous peak.
  • Most corrections do not become bear markets.
  • Typically, one in five corrections will become a bear market.
  • A bear market can last normally around a year, with the average closer to 15 months; they can also be much shorter than that.

The proper investor response to corrections or bear markets.

  • The rebound from these declines can often be swift, dramatic, and offer some of the best time to invest.

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