Is This a New Bull Market or Bear Market Rally?

The rally since the Christmas bear market lows has been large and fast.  

The question all want to know and that gets extensive debate on message board is: 

Is this a new bull market that will make new highs soon or are we in a bear market rally that will roll over soon and lead us to new lows?

While the major indexes are still down 6.4% to 13.5% from their 2018 record highs, they are up between 7.6% and 11.7% already this year.

All four hourly index charts above show that indexes rallied above an "inverted head and shoulder bottom pattern" then pulled back this week to test that breakout or neckline from above.  If that neckline holds and the indexes continue to rally higher, then the odds favor new highs for most of the indexes.  The green line with an arrow head on the Russell 2000 chart shows the target of the pattern is below its 2018 high while the Dow pattern has a target of a new high.

My Explore Portfolio made several record highs before pulling back slightly Friday.  It really helped to be taking profits last year when the market was at record highs then buying stocks near the Christmas Bear Market Lows.  The types of stocks in my Explore Portfolio usually lead out of bear market bottoms and now is no exception so this is also bullish.

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This "Andrew's Pitchfork" chart of the S&P 500 show two possible scenarios.

1. The red "bearish pitchfork" suggests the rally is over or nearly over while 
2. the green "bullish pitchfork" suggests the rally is only about half way to its peak.

Only time will tell since nobody knows for sure what the markets will do in the short term.  I've taken some profits on what I bought near the lows last year so I have plenty of cash to buy if the markets test their Christmas lows or even go lower.  Also, I have plenty in the market and will just take more profits if the markets continue high.  As my results from on the record for over 20 years show, I don't need to be "right" about the short term market direction as my method works best with some volatility.

To understand more, please read these KEY articles:

• Make Money In A Flat Market With Asset Allocation & Market Volatility
• Winning the Zigs, losing on the Zags - Why small investors usually do poorly
• Be Your Own Financial Advisor - Save The High Fees!

Discuss this article on my "Investing for the long term" Facebook group. 

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