Step 1:

A move begins with the sponsors (smart traders) who have insider knowledge as it relates to a particular stock or market. This information will move a market up or down depending on the insiders' information. These buyers are smart, very smart, and recognize trading/investment opportunities very early in the markup cycle.

Step 2:

Days, weeks, or sometimes months after a move has started, there is a brief mention in the electronic media (radio, cable, TV) or on one of the internet chat boards that a market has moved. The public hears for the first time and begins to get interested, but does not buy.

Step 3:

A blurb of information appears in print media. The move also begins getting more exposure on blogs and internet message boards. The public starts paying a little more attention, and will buy a little bit.

Step 4:

Wall Street and LaSalle Street brokers go into full hype mode and hawk the market to their customers. The public begins buying in greater volume.

Step

A full-blown front-page article appears about the particular stock or market in one of the major financial newspapers, magazines, or financial websites. This is often six months after the fact and after a market has shown its greatest appreciation. There is often heavy public buying, even a possible frenzy, as all media, brokers, and so-called "gurus" start to tout the market.

Step 6:

As step 5 gets underway, the sponsors or smart traders begin to move out of the market and take their profits off the table.

The finale: The move ends, the market falls, and investors lose money.
About the Author

Mark Crisp - The Momentum Stock Trader http://www.stressfreetrading.com - The good news: It doesn't have to be this way. Momentum Stock Trading System (http://www.stressfreetrading.com) is designed not only to catch big moves like the ones described above, but also how to avoid disasters like the dot-com meltdown.