This Doesn't Sound Like a Wall of Worry

A traditional view is that the stock market needs to climb a "wall of worry." A bullish market will continue to climb despite economic risks or uncertainties that make most investors nervous. By the time these perceived risks have been resolved and investors feel more comfortable, the market tends to decline.

This year's incredible swing from the depths of despair to unbridled optimism about the impending economic recovery has been astounding. Many have remarked that the traditional "wall of worry" has been lacking from the markets recent run, as investors see nothing but good things on the horizon.

This "lack of worry" seems to have been intensifying lately--

Even If Stock Selloff Is Coming, You Don't Have to Join Crowd

The prevailing sentiment seems to be that even if a correction does come along, it will be healthy for the markets. Now is not the time, market bulls say, to be taking money off the table....

A correction could come, but it won't be anything devastating-perhaps 7 or 8 percent-and will be a healthy detour on the market's way up....

A correction, then, could present a buying opportunity.