Bull markets tend to peak with a whimper, not a bang — but a 15% correction for the S&P 500 may be next

Bull markets tend to peak with a whimper, not a bang — but a 15% correction for the S&P 500 may be next SpaceX's stock climbs on profit and revenue beats, as AI business surges — live Bull markets tend to peak with a whimper, not a bang — but a 15% correction for the S&P 500 may be next In contrast to bear-market bottoms, market tops often are undramatic S&P 500 is less than 2% below its all-time high, and alarm bells are not ringing yet. /iStock Bull-market tops are not the mirror opposite of bear-market bottoms. Keep that in mind as you try to discern when the current bull market is about to finally top out. Unlike bear-market bottoms, which typically end with a spasm of despair as traders throw in the towel, bull-market tops are far more gradual and less dramatic.

By looking for the mirror opposite of a bear market, investors therefore may remain invested far beyond what turns out to be the final top. Copyright ©2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 The Social Security Administration corrected millions of records, and says there’s more to fix Elon Musk promised a SpaceX share to every kid in America — don’t hold your breath Pending home sales sink to 25-year low as buyers flee high mortgage rates Wall Street researchers just used Claude to design a drug.

The experiment has spawned a new investment thesis. Mark Hulbert is a columnist for MarketWatch. His Hulbert Ratings service tracks investment newsletters that pay a flat fee to be audited.

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