Is buy and hold strategy dead?

With what is happening in the markets these days, many clients come up and ask this question. This, of course, goes against the generally accepted norm about the equities market, but if one were to confront the historical data, it is true that for an extended period of time, the index goes nowhere leaving investors confused and traders whipsawed by the market volatility. What adds further confusion is the linkage between real economy and the financial markets.

The linkage between the news flows, economic data flow and the markets are even more difficult to decipher. In addition, the news season keeps changing every so often and so sometimes it is China markets, sometimes it is the dollar index, and at other times Euro. At other times economic data suggests positivity to be negated quickly by others that follow a few days later. At the sector level, it plays by some sectors coming in favour and a few others falling out.

So users, the market's buy and hold strategy dead?