empty
17.03.2025 10:32 AM
Are stock investors poised to buy shares during nosedive?

Anything can happen sooner or later. The S&P 500 entered correction territory in just 16 trading sessions. In the previous 24 instances where stocks dropped 10% from recent record highs but avoided a bear market, it took around eight months to recover to all-time highs. This suggests that the broad stock index is unlikely to regain its uptrend before mid-October.

S&P 500 correction trends

This image is no longer relevant

The euphoria that dominated the stock market during the presidential elections in November has now been replaced by pessimism. Investors have realized that events are unfolding differently than they had anticipated. They had envisioned Trump 2.0 as a continuation of Trump 1.0—just like eight years ago, they expected the White House leader to start with tax cuts and deregulation, giving the US economy a boost before pushing it over the edge with tariffs.

In reality, things turned out differently. Import tariffs are not just a negotiation tactic for the Republican leader—he is genuinely committed to bringing factories and production back to the US. This overhaul of a decades-old system is spooking investors, causing them to flee like rats from a sinking ship. As a result, the S&P 500 is not just declining—it is also losing ground to its European and global counterparts.

Economic policy uncertainty is at extreme levels, and markets are questioning whether they can withstand the April 2nd shock when mutual tariffs and import duties on specific industries are set to be announced.

Catching a falling knife?

Should investors buy in a bear market under these conditions? According to surveys by the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII), the proportion of stock market bears has surpassed the number of bulls for the first time in a long while. Financial advisors are unanimously recommending selling equities. Pessimism is extreme, and historically, such moments create perfect buying opportunities. However, now might not be the ideal time, as big players don't seem as scared as the retail investors.

US stock market bull vs. bear sentiment trends

This image is no longer relevant

The S&P 500 downtrend poses a risk to the US economy. A Harvard University study suggests that a 20% drop in the broad stock index in 2025 could reduce GDP growth by 1 percentage point. The reason? The top 10% of wealthy American households account for half of all consumer spending. When market capitalization falls, their wealth declines, leading to sluggish spending.

This image is no longer relevant

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent derines the stock market correction as "normal" and insists that stock indices will thrive due to strong tax policies and deregulation in the long run, but for now, they remain stuck in a downward spiral.

Technical outlook for the S&P 500

On the daily chart, a cluster has formed near the point 5 of the Expanding Wedge pattern. A break above 5,645 would serve as a buy signal for the S&P 500, but short-term gains are likely to be met with selling pressure at resistance levels of 5,670, 5,750, and 5,815.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

Traders Didn't Believe the Japanese Regulator

The Japanese yen lost some ground against the US dollar after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda hinted today that the central bank may continue to slow the pace

Jakub Novak 11:16 2025-06-03 UTC+2

Market startles monster

Over time, we get used to everything — the good and the bad. Investors have finally come to terms with the fact that they will have to build businesses under

Marek Petkovich 10:44 2025-06-03 UTC+2

Deteriorating U.S. Economic Conditions Bring Fed Rate Cuts Closer (Potential for Continued Decline in #USDX and EUR/JPY Pair)

Although the market has largely stopped reacting to incoming economic data—especially from the U.S.—and is more focused on the geopolitical and economic moves of Donald Trump, who is steering

Pati Gani 09:52 2025-06-03 UTC+2

Everything Is Still Working Against the U.S. Dollar

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to secure more trade agreements, the U.S. dollar continues to decline sharply against several other assets as negotiations with China and Europe falter

Jakub Novak 09:09 2025-06-03 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on June 3? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

There are only two macroeconomic reports scheduled for Tuesday. Although the first report looks significant on its own and the second one is directly related to the U.S. labor market

Paolo Greco 06:53 2025-06-03 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – June 3: Trump Deals Another Slap to the Dollar

The GBP/USD currency pair surged upward again on Monday. Just as the British pound had started a correction and even consolidated below the moving average line, Trump once again announced

Paolo Greco 04:38 2025-06-03 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – June 3: A New Round of Escalation in the Global Trade War

As we predicted, the EUR/USD currency pair collapsed on Monday. However, the collapse was not of the pair but rather of the U.S. dollar. Recall that over the weekend

Paolo Greco 04:35 2025-06-03 UTC+2

Trump: Tariffs Cannot Be Canceled

Donald Trump is prepared to fight for "his tariffs" until the end—or until victory. It's important to remember that court battles are nothing new for the current U.S. president. During

Chin Zhao 00:38 2025-06-03 UTC+2

EUR/USD. The Dollar Falls Out of Favor Again

The euro-dollar pair is once again attempting to breach the 1.14 figure. This is far from the first attempt by EUR/USD buyers over the past two months

Irina Manzenko 00:38 2025-06-03 UTC+2

The Euro Nears the Finish Line

Everything eventually comes to an end—both good and bad. One can debate endlessly whether the European Central Bank's deposit rate cut is positive or negative for the euro. However

Marek Petkovich 00:38 2025-06-03 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.