Now That Stock Prices Have Rebounded, How Do I Protect My Gains?

Now that the U.S. stock market has recaptured most of its losses from 2018's fourth quarter, many investors are breathing a sigh of relief. From its lows on Dec. 24, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, jumped 18% through the end of February. The index is now within striking distance of a record high.

It's stunning how the consensus outlook has changed in just a couple of months. When the stock market was taking a nosedive late last year, some economists were predicting