1. Buy the rumor, sell the news

2. Don't fight the market
No one is bigger than the market, and no matter how right you think you are about a certain stock or trend, the market doesn't care. The market does what it does, and it's the ultimate decider.

3. Never catch a falling knife
If a stock or market appears to be in free fall, it's not a good time to show off your outfield skills. The "falling knife" stock market term refers to a sharp price drop, and the message for investors is to basically get out of the way and don't get cut—it’s better to wait until the price appears to have bottomed before you consider buying.

4. Markets climb a "wall of worry"
Bull markets, or uptrending markets, are sometimes said to be climbing a "wall of worry," meaning stock prices are rising despite economic uncertainty, seemingly negative news, or a lack of positive news.

5. Stocks take the stairs up and the elevator down
Bull markets and long-term uptrends often unfold gradually over many years, reflecting (in part) broader, slow-moving economic and business cycles. In contrast, market downturns often happen much faster, sometimes in steep slides covering just weeks, days, or even minutes. Other times, a bubble "bursts" or a market "crashes" as fear takes over and selling cascades.