The worst time to decide when to sell stocks is during a sharp decline, with a frightening headline on the screen. A protective stop just below the 3/5 or 4/7 crossover averages makes the decision in advance, and the intermediate cycle decides what comes next: a pause when it is rising, cash when it is falling. This article covers the 2022 decline, why the oversold bounce after a sale is not a reason to undo it, and why inflation reports explain the selling without timing it.
