A correction, but well short of a bear market

MARKET sell-offs are dramatic, but can provide opportunities.

A number of factors appear to have contributed to the selloff in equity markets that commenced last week and picked up steam in a volatility-driven decline on Feb 5.

While the decline was eye-catching, Monday's 4.1 per cent drop was only the 25th largest in the history of the S&P 500 Index.