Bull Market Returns: What's Next for S&P 500?

The S&P 500 has entered a new bull market, with research from Bank of America indicating that the index rises 92% of the time in the 12 months following the start of a bull market. However, history shows that the average path up for stocks might not be linear, with the benchmark index actually falling 0.5% on average in the first month upon hitting bull market territory. The Federal Reserve's pause in its interest rate hiking process may also lead to a slowdown in economic growth, potentially pressuring earnings growth as well.