As we prepare for another week in the markets, it bears remembering that Bear markets are not an orgy of pain with indices going straight down. Along the way, there are always brief rallies which bring optimism that the worst is over. But, the indices then resume their downtrend until we reach capitulation and almost everyone is bearish.
This certainly was the pattern in the Bear market from 1929-1932 during the Great Depression. There were six separate bear market rallies during that brief 3-year span. Below are the charts for the Dow Jones from 1928-1932.
