Market cycle

Recurring price oscillation between expansion and contraction phases — object of cyclic analysis and macro models.

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In plain terms — Price never moves in a straight line: it rises, falls, repeats. A «cycle» is that recurring oscillation — on different scales (days, months, years).

A market cycle is movement that repeats over time: rise, peak, fall, trough, then rise again. Duration and magnitude vary by issue and period.

Level Example
Macro Economic cycles, multi-year bear/bull
Operational Swings from weeks to months — typical cyclic timing scale
Micro Intraday oscillations

Cycle vs trend

Trend is dominant direction on a time scale; cycle is the oscillatory component on top. Cyclic analysis models price as sum of cycles + fundamental trend (price-motion-model).

Not every wiggle is a «tradable» cycle: measurable structure (envelope, periodicity) and entry/exit rules are required.