Investing.com - The average investor may be excused for a being a little confused about the outlook for U.S. stocks in 2018.
The market is off to a strong start this year, touching new record highs, but there's reason for caution.
It seems, the higher U.S. stocks go, the louder the analysts' call for a price correction. And with that, predictions of more volatile trading in what's been an usually calm market.
Blackstone (NYSE:BX)'s Byron Wein, for one, is predicting a 10% pullback for stocks, which would be the first since early 2016.
At the same time, many pundits expect the market to end the year 3%-5% higher, with one estimate putting the S&P 500 at 3,100, well above its current level.
Those urging caution point to a relatively rare feat --that the index did not register even one 3% decline last year.
That's one reason why many analysts say a correction is long overdue. The problem is they have been saying that for years.