While a volatile stock market is often referred to as a roller coaster ride, the closing days of 2018 seemed to have been the next step up.
After a prolonged growth period, the market moved into a new record-setting path of volatility. And some financial pundits suggest that it may continue in the new year. Welcome to the new reality of 2019.
The week before Christmas, the Dow notched its worst weekly loss in a decade. This was followed by a Christmas Eve drop that was the worst on that date in the stock market’s history. These precipitous declines propelled the market to the edge of a bear market, which is considered a 20% decline from the market’s most recent high point.
Then, the Dow whiplashed to climb by 1,000 points. This was the highest one-day point gain ever. CNN.com called these events “a head-spinning, jaw-dropping 10 days in the markets.”
But with healthy employment figures and a surge of buoyant holiday shopping, how did things get here? And what could the new market volatility mean for those trying to plan for a successful retirement—and for those who already retired?
