Are we being fooled in the name of an upcoming recession?

The S&P 500 is up 12% YTD, along with a notable 20% climb from the low point experienced last year.

The positive trends are suggesting that we may have entered another Bull market.

However, we are still hearing things like “recession is coming” and “the worst is yet to come”.

It makes me wonder could be a deliberate strategy employed by major institutions
?

Is it possible that big institutions are strategically capitalizing on market downturns, purchasing stocks at reduced rates, all the while fostering apprehension among retail investors?