Investopedia

Capitulation

Filed Under » ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Capitulation'

When investors give up any previous gains in stock price by selling equities in an effort to get out of the market and into less risky investments. True capitulation involves extremely high volume and sharp declines. It usually is indicated by panic selling.

The term is a derived from a military term which refers to surrender.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Capitulation'

After capitulation selling, it is thought that there are great bargains to be had. The belief is that everyone who wants to get out of a stock, for any reason (including forced selling due to margin calls), has sold. The price should then, theoretically, reverse or bounce off the lows. In other words, some investors believe that true capitulation is the sign of a bottom.

Articles Of Interest

  1. Connecting Crashes, Corrections And Capitulation

    Even though crashes, corrections and capitulations are bad news for investors holding the stock, there are still ways to profit.
  2. War's Influence On Wall Street

    Blitzkrieg? Dawn raids? Sounds like the markets and the battlefield have a few things in common!
  3. Sympathy Sell-Off: An Investor's Guide

    Find out how to tell whether your stock is a bargain or a bank breaker.
  4. If everyone is selling in a bear market, does your broker have to buy your shares from you? If so, won't he be losing his shirt?

    A broker won't lose money when a stock goes down because he or she is usually nothing more than an agent acting on sellers' behalf in finding somebody else who wants to buy the shares. Even though ...
  5. Women And Investing: It's A Style Thing

    You don't have to be a boy or act like a boy to win. In fact, doing the opposite could be better for your financial health.
  6. Build A Model Portfolio With Style Investing

    This sophisticated approach will add flair to your returns.
  7. How To Develop A Trading Brain

    The fundamental role of trader psychology tends to be underestimated, with too much emphasis placed on the technical side.
  8. This Is Your Brain On Stocks

    Find out how the human mind can hurt investors' portfolios.
  9. Tips For Controlling Investment Losses

    A profit/loss plan helps investors recognize mistakes and invest logically, rather than emotionally.
  10. Investors: Rely On Your Gut

    Find out how your personality and natural instincts can direct your investment choices.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Validation Period

    The amount of time necessary for the premium on an insurance policy to cover the commissions, the cost of investigation, medical exams and other expenses associated with the issuance of the policy.
  2. Winner's Curse

    Because of incomplete information, emotions or any other number of factors regarding the item being auctioned, bidders can have a difficult time determining the item's intrinsic value. As a result, the largest overestimation of an item's value ends up winning the auction.
  3. Glocalization

    A combination of the words "globalization" and "localization" used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market.
  4. Disaster Loss

    A special type of tax-deductible loss, similar to a casualty loss, where a loss has been incurred by taxpayers who reside in an area that has been designated as a federal disaster area by the President.
  5. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.
  6. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
Trading Center